DeKing, Peter, 1867-1937

DEKING, DEKEUNING, DEKEUNINCK, KUKELBERG, KWEKELBERG, VERSCHUREN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-- Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

From the Alton Democrat, October 15, 1937: Rock Valley news:

Peter De King passed away at his home in Rock Valley Sunday morning, Oct. 3, at 5:50 o'clock.

Mr. De King was born October 8, 1867 in Belgium. He was united in marriage to Clemencia Kukelberg in 1892 and shortly afterward came to America, going to Alexandria, S. D., where he worked on the railroad. On account of ill health, they returned to Biervliet, Zeeland, Netherlands. In 1900 they came back to the United States and moved to Rock Valley where they lived on a farm for fourteen years and in 1914 moved to Hull. His wife preceded him in death on December 31, 1922. at Hull. Mr. De King moved back to Rock Valley in 1930.

The following relatives remain: .The children are Mrs. Henry Wyffles. Park Rapids. Minn.; Mrs. A. M. Bradley, Alvord, Iowa; Sam De King of Marshall, Minn.: Peter De King; Marion Junction. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Kukeberg[sic], in the Netherlands.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, October 8, 1937:

PIONEER RESIDENT HAS PASSED AWAY

Peter De Keuning passed away at his home in Rock Valley, Sunday morning, October 3. Mr. De Keuning had not been as well as usual this past summer, but was able to enjoy life as usual for some time before his death. He suffered a heart attack Thursday evening, September 30, and grew steadily worse until his death, on Sunday.

Mr. De Keuning was born in Belgium, February 8, 1867. He was united in marriage with Miss Clemencia Kukleberg[sic], June 29, 1891. Sometime after their marriage, they came to the United States and made their home at Alexandria, S.D. Mr. De Keuning worked for the railroad there until he was forced to give up his work because of ill health. They then moved back to Europe and made their home in Biervliet, Netherlands, where they lived for some time. In 1900, they decided to move back to the United States, and moved onto a farm near Rock Valley. In 1914 Mr. and Mrs. De Keuning and their family moved to Hull, where Mr. De Keuning became foreman for the Milwaukee railroad.

Mrs. De Keuning passed away on December 31, 1922. Since that time Mr. De Keuning spent some time in Hull, and lived for a short time with Dr. and Mrs. A. M. Bradley in Alvord. About 1930 he moved to Rock Valley and has lived here since that time. Mr. De Keuning preferred to live in Rock Valley, because he called it his home.

Mr. De Keuning is survived by four children, who are, Nellie, Mrs. Henry Wyffles, of Park Rapids, Minn.; Elizabeth, Mrs. A. M. Bradley of Alvord; Sam of Marshall, Minn.; and Peter, Jr., of Marion, S.D. A small daughter, who was Mrs. Bradley’s twin sister, passed away at the age of five months, in November 1895. Mr. De Keuning is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Louisa Kukleberg, of Marion, S.D.

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning, in St. Mary’s church in Rock Valley, with Rev. Buckholtz, of Alvord, in charge of the services in the absence of Rec. Foerster.

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An obituary similar to that in the Rock Valley Bee was published in the Sioux County Capital, October 7, 1937. It also gives his name as Peter De Keuning, and says he suffered a stroke on September 30. It gives his birth date as October 8, 1867, and says that as a boy he lived on the border line between Holland and Belgium. It spells his wife’s surname Kukelberg. Mrs. Bradley’s twin sister was named Salina, and she was buried in Alexandria, S.D.

A briefer obituary was published in the Sioux Center News, October 7, 1937, spelling his name De King. It provides no additional information.

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RESEARCH NOTES

De King is the Anglicized spelling of De Keuning or De Koenig.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has DeKing, Peter, b. 1867, d. 1937, Father, St. Marys Cemetery, Rock Valley IA.

His death certificate (informant Mrs. A. M. Bradley) has him as Peter De King, widowed, retired farmer; wife Clementia Kuckleberg; born Feb. 8, 1867 in Europe; parents Douglas De King and Rosalie Verschwin; died at 4 a.m. October 3, 1937; cause, coronary thrombosis, 1st attack June 15, 1937, 2nd attack Oct. 1, 1937.

His FindaGrave.com page has him as Peter DeKing Sr., with photos of the De King family stone and his headstone. Spouse Clemencia Rozalia Kwekelberg DeKing (1866-1922). Born 8 Feb 1867 in Stoppeldijk, Zeeland, Netherlands as Petrus de Keuninck, parents Henrikus Anthonie de Keuninck and Rosalia Verschuren. The site includes a photo of his birth certificate.

WieWasWie.nl has a marriage index record for groom Petrus de Keuninck, age 24, a farmhand, born in Stoppeldijk, parents Henricus Anthonie de Keuninck and Rosalia Verschuren, a charwoman; bride Clementia Rozalia Kwekelberg, age 24, a charwoman, born in Amemuiden, parents Johannis Franciscus Kwekelberg, a laborer, and Amelia Lippens, a charwoman; married 27 June 1891 in Biervliet.