Kooiman, Gerrit John, 1887-1937

KOOIMAN, ZWART

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

From the Boyden Reporter, September 2, 1937:

Gerritt J. Kooiman was born March 30, 1887 at Alton, the son of Hilda and Jacob Kooiman, and passed away at his home in Boyden of a heart ailment, Friday evening at the age of 50 years, 4 months and 27 days.

He was united in marriage to Lillian Zwart, Feb. 23, 1909 at Leota [Minnesota]. The first two years of married life were spent on a farm near Leota. The family moved to Leota where the deceased was employed as a cream tester. From Leota the family moved to Edgerton, where he worked in a store for 12 years. The deceased, accompanied by his wife and two daughters, Bertha and Hilda, moved to Boyden in February of 1925, where he was employed as a cream tester in the local creamery.

In November of 1930, Gerritt, in partnership with his cousin Jake [Kooiman], also deceased, purchased the Peoples Store, which they operated until the death of Jake five years ago. Since that time he has been employed at the store.

He leaves to mourn his departure the widow, the two daughters, Bertha, Mrs. Walter Diekevers, and Hilda, Mrs. Arnold Long of Manilla, Philippine Islands. three grandchildren, Leola and Edwin Diekevers and Gordon Long; four brothers: Jacob, Peter, Herman and Franklin are of Redlands, Calif.; two sisters: Helen, Mrs. John Vande Steeg, and Elizabeth, Mrs. Arnold Kravig of Chandler, Minn.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Brink in the Reformed Church, Monday afternoon. Pallbearers were business associates: Ed Diekevers, John Hilton, Len. Landhuis, Herman Vander Maaten, Jim VerHoef and Jerry Notting.

Among the friends and relatives from out of town [at] the Kooiman funeral were: The John, Abe, Will, and Herman Kooiman families, Joe De Kook, Mrs. Gulker, Mrs. Allen Gillman, Mrs. Julia Ten Cate, Mrs. Frank Roetman, and Mrs. John Ten Cate, Dr. De Boer, John and Bill Zwart families and Miss Bertha Zwart, Chris Velthuis family of Edgerton, Minn.; Herman, Peter, Jake and Franklin Kooiman of Redlands, Calif.; B. J. Kenra family, Mrs. Frank Mouw, Mrs. John Huismans, Mrs. Henry Huisman, Gt. Peters, John Ver Hoef, and Mrs. Ben Ver Hoef, and Dick Ross of Orange City; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Scholten of Rock Valley; Mr. and Mrs. Jake Van Steenwyk, Mr. and Mrs. Saur, and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Ver Hoef of Sioux Center.

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From the Sioux Center News, September 2, 1937:

Well Known Boyden Resident Dies

Gerrit Kooiman, respected citizen and business man of Boyden, died at Boyden last Thursday following an illness of several weeks. He was fifty years of age.

Mr. Kooiman had been in the grocery retail business for several years previous to his death and was familiar to hosts of people who dealt with him in business. He had been employed in the Boyden creamery before starting a grocery business for himself.

He is survived by his wife and two children, Bertha, Mrs. Walter DeKavers of Boyden, and Hilda, Mrs. Arnold Long, who left about two weeks ago for Manila, Philippine Islands, where her husband is an engineer.

Funeral services were held at the 1st Ref. Church of Boyden, Rev. John Brink officiating. Sam and Clarence Ver Hoef of Sioux Center sang at the services. Mr. and Mrs. Jake Van Steenwyk from here also attended.

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An obituary in the Alton Democrat, September 3, Boyden news, adds that at the time of his death he was employed in the Vande Hoef’s Volunteer Store.

From the Sioux County Capital, September 2: Mr. and Mrs. William Shouten and Mrs. Allen Youngsma went to Boyden Monday to attend the funeral services held for Gerrit J. Kooiman who died Friday following a serious illness. Mrs. William Schouten has been in Boyden for the past two weeks caring for Mr. Kooiman.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Kooiman, Gerrit John, b. 1887, d. 1937, Sheridan Township Cemetery, Boyden IA.

His death certificate has him as Gerrit J. Kooiman, born March 13, 1887 in Iowa, resident of Boyden for 13 years 6 months; 15 years as a merchant, last worked at this occupation in July 1937; parents Jake Kooiman, born in Iowa, and Hilda G. Wienhof[?], born in Illinois; died at 2:15 a.m. August 27, 1937; cause, uremia, onset 8-1-37; contributory cause, “cardio-renal,” onset 1930.

His FindaGrave page also gives his birth date as 13 March 1887. It gives his wife as Lillian Zwart Kooiman Moret (1888-1964, married John W. Moret in 1943).

His World War 1 draft registration card (June 1917, age 30) gives his birth date as March thirtieth 1887; resident of Edgerton, Minn.; laborer, Farmers Coop. Co., Edgerton; wife and two children; tall, medium build, gray eyes, light brown hair.