Dykstra, Harry 1891-1968

DYKSTRA, VANDERWILT

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke --Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

Source: Alton Democrat (10-10-1968)

Born: October 22, 1891
Died: October 4, 1968

COUNTY SHERIFF DYKSTRA DIES

Harry Dykstra, one of the most outstanding of the last five colorful Sioux County Sheriffs, died Friday evening at the St. Joseph Hospital, Sioux City, after undergoing two operations during the afternoon in an effort to repair a ruptured blood vessel.

The veteran county officer was admitted to the hospital about 6 a.m. after he became faint and collapsed earlier in the morning. About 17 pints of blood were used in the effort to save his life but without avail.

Born October 22, 1891, at Sioux Center, he married Sophia Vander Wilt January 31, 1914, at Orange City.

Survivors besides the widow are a son, Arnold, of Glendale, California, a daughter. Mrs. Evan (Adelaide) Vogelaar of George, and a sister, Mrs. Wiliam Doornink of Orange City, by five grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren.

A native and lifelong resident of Sioux County, he served as deputy under Sheriff Hugo Synhorst starting in 1921 and in 1938 was elected sheriff, an office which he had filled since that time up until the day of his death. He was not a candidate in the forthcoming November 5 general election. Sheriff Dykstra was a worthy successor of such great sheriffs as Pete Schasp, Bob Henry, William Wiersma and Hugo Synhorst. While still sheriff he risked his life on a number of occasions and was wounded in the fight with robbers attempting to loot the Sioux County Savings Bank at Maurice. Several times during the prohibition era his life was endangered while dealing with bootleggers. He took part in some wild chases at high speed in pursuing criminals crossing Sioux County - one of them a robber who had broken into the Perkins store. And another time was when a desperado had slugged Sheriff Synhorst in the county jail and attempted to get away at breakneck speed. Deputy Dykstra, armed with a sub-machine gun, leaned out the car window as Synhorst drove and his bullets riddled the back end of the stolen car, forcing it into the ditch southwest of Orange City.

Funeral services, with the pastor, the Reverend Alvin Hook officiating, were held at the American Reformed Church at Orange City Tuesday afternoon, with interment at Evergreen Cemetery. George, Iowa, under the direction of the Van Etten Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Sgt. Lawrence Haze of the Highway Patrol; Neil Kroon, sheriff of Lyon County: Mel Hullenan, of the Hawarden police department; Merle Kirkpatrick, 18th district probation officer; Gene Newell, conservation officer: and Earl Klay, county attorney.

The writer has known Harry Dykstra for nearly a half century and is aware of a number of cases he solved since his election as sheriff by deduction and painstaking attention to clues, and has been impressed with results he obtained in keeping Sioux county free from major crimes. (George E. Bowers).