VanZyl, Bert, 1890-1935

VANZYL, VANDERBERG, VANDEBERG, VANES

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Sioux Center News, June 20, 1935:

Hospers Insurance Man Commits Suicide

Bert Van Zyl, life-time resident of Hospers, killed himself with a shot-gun in the basement of his home early Monday evening [June 17]. For the past several months Mr. Van Zyl had been morbid about his general health, and particularly worried about a nervous and mental breakdown. His son and wife were aware of this and Monday when he stayed at home they were conscious that something was worrying him. When he went to the basement after supper Mrs. Van Zyl went to investigate but arrived just after he shot himself. The local doctor rushed him to the Sheldon hospital where he died shortly after arriving there.

Mr. Van Zyl has been in the insurance business for the past years, and was also a representative of the Ness Products Co. and has been active in general community affairs. He was a member of the school board at the time of his death.

Surviving him are his wife, nee Lillian Vander Berg; his son Kenneth 16, his father Case Van Zyl of Hospers; one brother and four sisters.

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From the Alton Democrat, June 28, 1935, Hospers news:

Bert Van Zyl died on Monday evening June 17, 1935, at the Sheldon hospital at the age of 44 years. He was born at Hospers on November 2, 1891. He lived his entire life around and in Hospers.

On April 21, 1916, he was married to Lillian Vande Burg. To this union three children were born. Two of these preceded their father in death, Lola Helen and Faith Arlene.

On Monday at 6:30 p.m., Mr. Van Zyl shot himself while in the basement of his home, dying a few hours later at the Sheldon hospital.

Mr. Van Zyl was a fine upstanding man and was a friend to everyone. He held a number of positions, such as insurance agent, McNess agent, substitute rural mail carrier, secretary of Sunday school and treasurer of school board. Mr. Van Zyl [was] reported to be a busy man these past few weeks.

He is survived by his widow and a son; his father, C. Van Zyl; also two brothers, Gerrit, of Holland, Mich., and Cornie of LeMars; by four sisters, Mrs. Joe Hoffs of Hospers, Mrs. W. Wesselink, Sheldon, Jeane, Holland, Mich., and Mary of Hospers. One sister, Tillie, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at the home and 2:00 at the 1st Ref. church with Rev. M. A. Stegeman officiating. Burial took place at the cemetery west of Hospers beside the remains of his daughters.

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From the Sioux County Index (Hull), June 21, 1935:

Hospers Man Commits Suicide Monday Evening

Bert Van Zyl, an insurance man of Hospers, Iowa, shot himself in the head, in the basement of his home, last Monday evening. He was still alive when found but died a short time later. Mr. Van Zyl had lived in Hospers nearly all his life, was a fine young man and no motive can be found for committing the rash ast.

Mrs. Van Zyl was a daughter of the Sioux county pioneer, Andrew Vander Berg, and a cousin of John Vande Berg, Mrs. Jacob Gorzeman and the Index editor. Her sister’s husband, Mr. Frank De Graaf, also committed suicide recently, at Newkirk. Mr. Van Zyl was a son of Sioux county’s original auctioneer, Mr. Case Van Zyl, and was also a cousin of the Misses Van’t Hof of Hull.

Relatives and friends here alike extend sincere sympathy to the wife and family.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate gives his birth date as Nov. 2, 1890 and his parents as Case Van Zyl and Lena Van Es, both born at Pella, Iowa. It ascribes his suicide to dementia, duration 2 months prior to date of suicide.

(Van Es is the family surname spelling in the Sioux County Cemetery Index.)

His FindaGrave.com page also gives his birth year as 1890, with a photo of his headstone; full name Bert Cornelius Van Zyl. It gives his wife as Lillian Anna Vande Berg Van Zyl.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1915/1916 has him as Bert C. Van Zyl, residence Hospers, and his birth place as Alton (Newkirk), Sioux County; parents Cornelius Van Zyl and Helena Van Ess; bride Lillian Van Den Berg, born in Orange City, parents Andries Van Den Berg and Tracie Buma; married at Orange City April 21, 1916.

His World War I draft registration card shows him as a farm implement dealer living in Hospers, and describes him as medium height and build, grey eyes, dark hair.