Werkman, Dirk J. (Dr.), 1867-1937

WERKMAN, DEBOER

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

From the Sioux Center News, December 2, 1937:

OBITUARY OF DR. D. J. WERKMAN

HULL – Dr. D. J. Werkman, a former resident of Hull, died suddenly the 23rd of Nov. at his home in Cedar Rapids. He had a coughing spell and passed away at the age of 70 years. 17 years ago they left Hull. He had been doctor in Hull for 28 years. The last 13 years he was assistant in the Chemistry Dept. at Coe college at Cedar Rapids. He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and five children: Mrs. Nick Vander Kooi of Springfield, S.D., Mrs. Albert De Wilt of Boyden, John Werkman who has a book store in Chicago, Ed Werkman of Pittsburg, Penn who is manager of the United Press, Margaret Werkman of Oak Park Ill., who is Dietician in a hospital; 8 grandchildren, and brother, Ed, of Michigan.

Services were held in the Am. Ref. church in charge of Rev. Jager. A male quartet sang two numbers. Pallbearers were John Vander Berg, L. Kooiker, D. Wissink, Garret DeMots, Martin Nymeyer and Will De Roos. Interment in Hope cemetery at Hull. All the children were at the funeral, also his sister Gertie Werkman of Grand Rapids, Mich. Mrs. Werkman and her sister-in-law are visiting in the A. De Wilt home for an indefinite time.

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From the Sioux County Index (Hull), December 3, 1937:

OBITUARY OF DR. DIRK J. WERKMAN, DIED NOV. 24th

Dr. Dirk J. Werkman, retired physician and former mayor of Hull, Iowa, and for thirteen years an assistant in the Coe College chemistry laboratory, died at the family residence, 1936 Washington Avenue, S.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 12:10 A.M. Wednesday, November 24th, 1937 following a brief illness.

Dr. Werkman was born July 21, 1867, at Holland, Michigan, moving from there to Hull where he practiced medicine, retiring in 1920. He was mayor of Hull for six years—from 1914 to 1920. The family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1920 and in 1922 Dr. Werkman became an assistant in the chemistry laboratory at Coe, retiring in 1935.

Dr. Werkman was married to Sena De Boer, July 6, 1892, at Holland. He was a graduate of Hope College and of the Medical School of the University of Michigan. He was a member of Westminister Presbyterian Church at Cedar Rapids.

Besides his wife he is survived by three daughters: Mrs. B. Vander Kooi of Springfield, South Dakota, Mrs. A. De Wild of Boyden, Iowa and Miss Margaret Werkman who is a dietitian in the West Suburban Hospital at Oak Park, Illinois; two sons: John D. Werkman of Chicago, of the Werkman Book House, and Edward Werkman who is bureau manager of the United Press at Pittsburgh, Pa.; a sister, Miss Gertrude Werkman; a brother, Edward Werkman—both of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in the Turner Chapel at Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 10:00 A.M. Friday morning and also at Hull, Iowa, Saturday at 2:00 P.M. in the American Reformed Church with Rev. R. A. Jager officiating. The pall bearers were G. S. De Mots, John Vande Berg, Will De Roos, L. R. Kooiker, D. H. Wissink, and Martin Nymeyer.

The obituary includes a photo.

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RESEARCH NOTES

An announcement of his death in the Sioux County Index, November 26, adds that he had several farms in this vicinity. The Sioux County Capital, December 2, Hull news, says he died of a heart attack and gives his married daughters’ names: Effie, Mrs. Vander Kooi, and Etta, Mrs. De Wild of Hull.

His death certificate adds his parents, John D. Werkman, born in Holland, Michigan, and Effie (surname unknown to the informant, J. D. Werkman); died at 12:10 a.m. November 24, 1937; cause, cardiac failure and coronary sclerosis.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Werkman, Dirk J. Dr., b. 1867, d. 1937, father, Hope Cemetery, Hull IA.

FindaGrave.com has him as Dr. Dirk John Werkman; parents Jans Dirks Werkman (1841-1926) and Effie E. Werkman Werkman (1843-1889); four siblings listed; wife Sena DeBoer Werkman (1868-1950); four children listed, including a daughter who died in infancy, Henrietta G. (1894-1895).

The Ottawa County, Michigan, marriage register for 1892 has groom Dirk J. Werkman, age 24, resident of Hull, Iowa, a physician and surgeon, born in Holland, Michigan, parents John D. Werkman and Effie Werkman; bride Sena De Boer, age 24, resident of Holland City, Mich., born in Holland, Mich., parents Simon De Boer and Henriette Hoekstra; married July 6, 1892 in Holland, Mich.