Gerritson, Cornelius, 1910-1936

GERRITSON, GERRITSEN, GARRETSON, VANESSEN, VOGELAAR, WELLONG

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

From the Sioux Center News, November 26, 1936:

YOUNG MAN SUCCUMBS TO DOUBLE PNEUMONIA

Cornelius Gerritsen, 25, son of Arie Gerritsen of Rock Valley, died at the Hull hospital Tuesday evening after a month’s illness. The young man had undergone an appendectomy about four weeks ago, and while still in the hospital contracted double pneumonia. He was married two years ago to Bertha Van Essen of Sioux Center and is survived by her and a three month old daughter, his parents and four brothers and two sisters. Funeral services will be held in the Methodist church in Rock Valley Friday.

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From the Sioux County Capital, December 3, 1936:

OBITUARIES – CORNELIUS GERRITSEN

Cornelius Gerritsen died at the Hull hospital, Tuesday evening, Nov. 24, of pneumonia contracted after an operation for appendicitis. He was born on January 6, 1910 at Rock Valley. He attended school in Rock Valley and spent his entire life here.

On December 24, 1934 he was married to Miss Bertha Van Essen of Sioux Center. The young couple was married at Canton, S.D. On Sept. 4, 1936, a daughter was born to them.

Mr. Gerritsen is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arie Gerritsen, and by four brothers, Leonard, Arie, Richard and Gerben and by two sisters, Wilhelmina and Mrs. John Schaaf of Canton, S.D.

Funeral services for Mr. Gerritsen were held Friday at his home at 1:30 and at 2:00 at the Methodist church. The services were conducted by Rev. Luke Brunsting of Sioux Center. Burial was made in the Valley View cemetery.

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From the Alton Democrat, December 4, 1936, Rock Valley news:

Cornelius Garretson passed away following a long illness Tuesday evening at 8:10 at the Hull hospital. Cornelius, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Arie Garretson, was born at Rock Valley, January 6, 1910 and shortly afterward lived on a farm in the hills but soon afterwards moved back to Rock Valley again. Cornelius received his education in the public school of Rock Valley where he grew to manhood. Once for a short time the family lived at Canton, S.D.

On December 24, 1934 Cornelius Garretson was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Van Essen of Sioux Center at Canton, S.D. and to this union was born a daughter on September 4, 1936.

Five weeks ago, Cornelius was seized with appendicitis and was taken to the hospital at Hull where he underwent an operation. He was taken with pneumonia from which he succumbed on Tuesday November 24, 1936 at the age of 26 years, 10 months and 18 days. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife Mrs. Cornelius Garretson, his three month old daughter, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arie Garretson, four brothers, Leonard, Arie, Richard and Gerben of Rock Valley, two sisters Mrs. John Schaaf of Canton, S.D. and Wilhelmina Garretson of Rock Valley, besides many other relatives.

Funeral services were held on Friday at the C. Garretson home at 1:30 and at the Methodist church at 2:00 o’clock, conducted by Rev. L. Brunsting of Sioux Center. A mixed quartet, Russell Brandts, Mrs. O. Manning, Mrs. Jerry Steck and Donald Vander Stouwe, sang two requests songs. The pall bearers were Henry Van Ginkle, Gerrit Van Haanen, Peter Timmers, Henry De Vries, Herman Van Holland and Bauman. Interment was made in Valley View Cemetery. The body was in charge of Vander Ploeg funeral service. The family have the sincere sympathy of a host of friends.

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RESEARCH NOTES

A brief note on his death in the Alton Democrat, December 4, 1936, Hull news, refers to him as Keane Garretson. The Rock Valley Bee is missing for this period.

His death certificate has him as Cornelius Gerritson [looks like originally Gerritsen, then overwritten]; born January 6, 1910, in Rock Valley; parents Arie Gerritson, born in Orange City, Iowa, and Bessie Vogelaar, born in Pella, Iowa; married, wife Bertha Van Essen; occupation, P.W.A. construction, one year in this occupation; died in the Hull hospital, where he had been 48 days, at 8:00 p.m. November 24, 1936; cause, coronary thrombosis, onset Nov. 23, 1936; contributory cause, pus appendix followed by pneumonia, onset Oct. 20, 1936.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Gerritson, Cornelius, b. 1910, d. 26 Nov 1936, Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley IA (WPA Index).

His FindaGrave.com page also spells his surname Gerritson, with a photo of his headstone. It lists his parents, Arie Gerritson (1883-1975) and Bessie Vogelaar (1887-1975), and several siblings. It shows his wife as Bertha Van Essen Gerritson Wellong (1915-2007), but her page lists only her, no second husband or children.

A brief note in the Sioux Center News, February 27, 1941, shows Bertha Garretson marrying John Wellong in Struble on February 25.