DeBruin, Gertrude (Mrs. Leon), 1892-1928

DEBRUIN, VANDUYN, AUGUSTINUS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Rock Valley Bee, March 30, 1928:

DEATH OF MRS. LEON DE BRUIN

The remains of Mrs. Leon De Bruin whose death was briefly mentioned in last week’s Bee, arrived in Rock Valley from Chicago, Saturday and funeral services were held in the Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. De Bruin was born in Holland February 13, 1892, where she lived with her mother until she was fifteen years of age, when she came with her mother to this country coming directly to Rock Valley. Her father died when she was about four years old. She lived here until she was married to Leon De Bruin on February 19, 1917, when she and her husband went to Grand Rapids, Mich., where they lived two years. From there they moved to Chicago where they lived six years. From Chicago they moved to Evergreen Park, Illinois, near Chicago, where they resided at the time of her death.

Mrs. De Bruin suffered a stroke of paralysis from which she could not recover, although everything possible was done for her. She was sick only six days.

She leaves her husband and three children, Cornelius, William and Anthony, two brothers, Wm. Van Duyn of Corsica, S.D., and Leon Van Duyn, of Rock Valley; and six sisters, Mrs. A. G. Vander Meer, of Rock Valley, Mrs. Herman De Bruin, of Hawarden, Mrs. Edward De Bruin, of Orange City, Mrs. A. Gelderman, of Fairview, S.D., and Mrs. Martin Van Geest, of Yankton, S.D. [yes, only five were listed], besides other relatives and friends who extend sincere sympathy to the bereaved husband and children.

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From the Alton Democrat, March 30, 1928, Rock Valley news:

Funeral services for Mrs. Leon De Bruin were held at the Christian Ref. church Saturday afternoon. This was a very sad event as the death left 4 little motherless children, three little boys and one little girl, besides the husband. Mrs. De Bruin died in Chicago Wednesday following a siege of influenza and was brought to Rock Valley for burial Saturday…. Interment was made in Valley View cemetery.

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Her forename is found in the Sioux County marriage register for 1916-1917: Gertrude Van Duyn, residence Rock Valley, age 26, born in De Lier Province of Zuid Holland, Netherlands, parents Willem Van Duyn and Wilhelmina Augustinus; bridegroom Leon De Bruin, residence Rock Valley, age 24, occupation bookkeeper, born in Rock Valley, parents Cornelius De Bruin and Annigje Wassen; married in Rock Valley Feb. 19, 1917.

FindaGrave.com shows that she is indeed buried in Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley, with a photo of her headstone (Gertrude M. De Bruin, 1892-1928), although she is not included in the Sioux County Cemetery Index.