Koel, Irene (Mrs. John), 1869-1926

KOEL, VANDERMARK, VANDYKE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Rock Valley Bee, September 17, 1926:

DEATH OF FORMER RESIDENT

Mrs. John Koel, a former resident of Rock Valley for a number of years, died at Grand Rapids, Mich., August 25. She had not been well for about six months.

Mrs. Koel was born in Holland, August 18, 1869, and had attained the age of fifty-seven years and seven days. At the age of thirteen years, she came to this country and during the most of the time lived in this vicinity. She visited relatives and friends here a few weeks before her death.

Besides other relatives, she leaves five children, as follows: Will, Peter, Kate, and Gladys, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Mrs. Maud Williams, of Sheldon, Iowa.

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From the Alton Democrat, September 10, 1926, Rock Valley news:

Word was received here Sunday of the death of Mrs. John Koel of Grand Rapids, Mich. The family moved to Michigan a year ago this summer and the news of her death is a shock to the community, as it was not known she was seriously ill. Mrs. Koel leaves to mourn a husband and [blurred] sons and two daughters. The family have the sympathy of friends in this vicinity.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Her death certificate (on Ancestry.com) has her as Mrs. John Koel; residence and place of death 2101 McKee Ave. S.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan; born August 18, 1869 in Gelderland, Netherlands; parents Peter Van Der Mark and Wilhelmina Van Dyke; died at 11:00 p.m. August 25, 1926; cause cerebral hemorrhage, chronic nephritis (plus illegible notes); contributory cause, arteriosclerosis; buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids.

FindaGrave.com has Irene Koel, 1869-1926, buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids; no other information, although there is also a cemetery index entry for John Koel, died 9 May 1940.

The 1920 U.S. census for Rock Valley has John Koel, age 59, born Holland, immigrated 1892, a farm laborer; wife Irene (50), born Holland, immigrated 1882; son William (27), born Michigan, a silo construction contractor; son Peter (23), born Michigan, a barber; daughter Katie (21), born Michigan, a cook in a restaurant; daughter Gladys (6), born Iowa; daughter Maude Hartman (25), born Michigan, married, a cook in a restaurant; and granddaughter Irene Hartman (2-7/12), born Iowa.