Heimstra, Robert "Poppe," 1861-1938

HEIMSTRA, HIEMSTRA, HEEMSTRA, WIERSMA, BIJDEWEG

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-- Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Rock Valley Bee, January 7. 1938:

Robert Heemstra Died Wednesday

Robert Heemstra passed away in the Le Mars hospital early Wednesday morning, January 5. Mr. Heemstra had been in failing health for a long time. He was taken to the hospital Monday where he continued to fail until death claimed him. Mr. Heemstra had been a resident of Rock Valley and vicinity for many years.

Funeral services will be held in the Christian Reformed church in Rock Valley Friday afternoon. A further account will be given next week.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, January 14, 1938:

Death of Robert Heimstra

Robert Heimstra, a brief account of whose death was given in last week’s Bee, passed away in the Le Mars hospital early Wednesday morning, January 5, 1938. He was taken to the hospital on Monday morning, January 3, but continued to fail until death claimed him.

Mr. Heimstra was born in Hitsem, in the Netherlands, where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage there with Annie Wiersma, on March 11, 1884. In 1890 the family came to this country. They located at Le Mars where they resided for thirteen years, moving from there to Hull where they lived eleven years, and then the family moved to this vicinity, lived on a farm west of Rock Valley for a few years and later moving to Rock Valley. Mr. Heimstra was a mason by trade, although he farmed for a few years.

He is survived by his widow and seven children. The children are, John Heimstra, Parker, S.D.; Mrs. Albert Gort, Valley Springs, S.D.; Peter, Mrs. Wm. Van Sloten, Mrs. A. Brandsma, and Mrs. Dick Van Eldik, Jr., all of Rock Valley; and Donald of Rochester, Minn. He also leaves one sister, Mrs. Aletje Visser, of Friesland, Netherlands, 24 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in the Christian Reformed church in Rock Valley Friday afternoon, in charge of Rev. J. Gritter, and the remains were taken to Valley View Cemetery.

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From the Alton Democrat, January 14, 1938, Rock Valley news:

Robert Heemstra passed away with heart disease at the LeMars hospital where he had been taken the day before.

Robert Heemstra was born in Hitsem, Friesland, Netherlands, Feb. 7, 1861 where he grew to manhood and was united in marriage to Miss Anne Wiersma in March 1883, fifty-five years ago. Mr. Heemstra came to America forty-eight years ago and located at Le Mars, Iowa, where he lived for thirteen years. He then lived in Hull for eleven years before coming to Rock Valley twenty-two years ago.

Mr. Heemstra passed out of life on January 5, 1938 after an illness of about four months. Mrs. Heemstra, his widow, and the following sons and daughters are left ot mourn his passing: John Heemstra of Parker, S.D.; Gertrude (Mrs. Albert Gort), Valley Springs, S.D.; Clara (Mrs. Wm. Van Sloten); Rena (Mrs. Abe Brandsma); Martha (Mrs. Dick Van Eldik); Peter Heemstra, all of Rock Valley and Donald Heemstra of Rochester, Minn.; one sister, Mrs. Altje Visser, Franeker, Friesland; twenty-four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted in the Christian Reformed church by Rev. John Gritter, pastor. Interment was made in Valley View Cemetery Friday afternoon.

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His death certificate has him as Robert Heimstra; resident of Le Mars[?!] 22 years; born in the Netherlands Feb. 7, 1861; parents Peter Heimstra and Geertje BylDeWeg; wife Annie Wiersma; occupation, cement worker, for 45 years, last worked at this occupation March 1937; died at 5:00 a.m. January 5, 1938 in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Le Mars; cause of death, chronic endo & myocarditis, symptoms exhibited in early summer.

His FindaGrave.com page has him as Robert “Poppe” Heimstra; born as Poppe Hiemstra in Hitzum, Franekeradeel Municipality, Friesland, Netherlands. The photo of their joint headstone shows him as Robert and his wife as Anna.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Poppe Hiemstra, born 7 Feb 1861 in Franekeradeel, Friesland, parents Pieter Alberts Hiemstra and Geertje Poppes Bijdeweg. There is also a marriage index record for groom Poppe Hiemstra, age 22, born in Hitzum, same parents; bride Antje Wiersma, age 19, born in Boer, parents Jan Jans Wiersma and Klaaske Daniels Wommelsdorp; married 10 March 1883 in Frankeradeel. Some of the Iowa marriage and birth records for his children have him as Poppe, others as Robert.