Meernik, John, 1891-1927

MEERNIK, MEERINK, MEERNINK, MEERDINK, MEERNICK, VANHOLLAND, REYERSEN

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

(Transcriber’s note: Various sources give several variant spellings of his surname. The transcriber chose Meernik, since that it how it appears on his headstone, a photograph of which is posted on FindaGrave.com and on the Iowa Gravestones Photo Project website. Alternate spellings are given in the surnames list so that information that may be found elsewhere can be matched to this obituary.)

From the Rock Valley Bee, September 2, 1927:

DEATH OF JOHN MEERNINK SUNDAY

John Meernink died at his home in Rock Valley at six o’clock Sunday evening, after seven years of illness and suffering, which he bore patiently to the end. Before he met with the accident which later proved fatal, Mr. Meernink lived on a farm northwest of Rock Valley. He was injured in an accident while working in the hay field when he fell from a hay stacker and injured his back. Although everything possible was done to relieve him he became partially paralyzed and so remained, and failed gradually until death came to relieve him.

The subject of this sketch was born in Holland, June 18, 1891, where he grew to manhood. At the age of about nineteen years, he came to this country and lived in Rock Valley and vicinity since that time. He was united in marriage to Miss Annie Van Holland, who with two children, Gilbert and Gertie, survive him. His mother and brothers live in Holland. His father preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, at one thirty at the home and at two o’clock in the Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, and the remains were taken to Valley View Cemetery for burial. The bereaved wife and children have the sympathy of many friends in their loss of a husband and father.

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An article in the Rock Valley Bee, June 18, 1920, tells of the accident that eventually proved fatal:

MAN HAS BACK BROKEN REPAIRING HAY STACKER

John Meernink met with a terrible accident Friday afternoon [June 11] while repairing a hay stacker on the farm where he lives eight miles west of Rock Valley. He had climbed to the top of the stacker to adjust some part of it, when a piece of the stacker fell striking him on the back and holding him fast. Another man was working with him, but could not get him loose, until a neighbor who was working in another field heard the cries for help and came to their assistance.

Mr. Meernink was suffering intensely. He was brought to Rock Valley where it was found that his back was broken. He had no control or feeling in the lower part of his body from the hips down. An operation was performed and it was found that at least three of the vertebrae were fractured and torn out of place. At this time the injured man seems to be improving. Feeling is returning to his lower limbs, and there seems to be hopes for his recovery.

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RESEARCH NOTES

He was discharged from the hospital after about six weeks. In 1921 he was taken to Iowa City for consultation (Rock Valley Bee, Sept. 22, 1921). In 1922 he finally sold out at his farm and moved into town (De Volksvriend, Feb. 9, 1922). In 1923 he was advertising for shoe repairing work, three blocks west of the Rock Valley Co. Lumber Yard, presumably his home (Rock Valley Bee, June 15, 22, 29, 1923). His name is sometimes spelled Meernink and sometimes Meernik.

A brief note about his death in the Alton Democrat (September 2, Rock Valley news) spells his name Meerdink.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has him as John Meerink [apparently a typographical error]. All of the other entries for a similar surname have the spelling Meerdink.

His entry on FindaGrave.com includes a photograph of his headstone: “John Meernik 1891 – 1927.” It also names his wife, Anna VanHolland Veenstra (1896-1984) and children, Gertrude Meernik Zonnefeld (1917-1997) and Gilbert Meernik (1920-1991).

The obituary for his wife, “Veenstra, Mrs. Albert (Anna),” posted separately, also spells his surname Meernik.

His death certificate (on which the handwriting is not always very legible) has him as John Meernick; born June 18, 1891 in Holland; parents Gusbert or Geesbert Mernick[sic] and Jacba [Jacoba?] Reerson[?]; died at 6:00 p.m. August 28, 1927; cause, “Simple meningitis caused by necrosis of lower dorsal vertebra, duration 1-1/2 months; contributory cause, broken back, duration 7 years 2 months, 18 days. The name of the informant is given as Mrs. John Meernik (his wife, although she is not named as such); the handwriting appears different from elsewhere on the certificate, and may be her actual signature.

The Iowa Select Marriages Index on Ancestry.com has him as Jan Meernik, born in Voorthinzen, Prov. of Gelderland, Netherlands; father Gysbert Meernik; mother Jacoba Reyersen; married Annie Van Holland in Sioux County, 1 March 1916.