Bierma, William, 1857-1938

BIERMA, KALKALEM, KOLKEMA, JANSEN, VANDAM, VANDERVEEN

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

Born: October 9, 1857, Holland
Died: February 18, 1938, Sioux Center, Iowa

Source: Sioux Center News, February 24, 1938:

AGED S. C. RESIDENT PASSES AWAY

William Bierma, 81, died at his home here Friday, Feb. 18 following a prolonged illness due to complications and his advanced years. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from the Central Reformed church, the Rev. R. D. Meengs and the Rev. J. M. Dykstra had charge. Interment was made in the Sioux Center cemetery.

William Beirma was born in Holland on Oct. 9, 1857 and passed from this life on Feb. 18, 1938. He came to the United States in his youth and upon reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Alice Kalkalem, who passed from this life on September 19 [no year was given]. The following children were born to this union: Mrs. Teunis Schut, Ben and John of Sioux Center, Mrs. Fred Schnieder of Madison, S.D. and Mrs. Edward Bolluyt of Orange City. There are 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

On Feb. 22, 1934 Mr. Bierma was united in marriage with Mrs. J. Jansen and a coincidence is that he was laid to rest on their fourth wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Bierma with the following step children survive: Mrs. William Wiebenga, John Jansen, Mrs. Albert Veen and Jerry Jansen all of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Thomas Gordon of South Haven, Mich. and Bert Jansen of Sioux Center.

Relatives and friends from the distance who came to pay their last respects were Mrs. William Wiebenga of Grand Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Edw. Bolluyt and son Marion of Orange City, Mr. and Mrs. I. Wiersma and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Wiersma, Mrs. H. Kraayenbrink and two children of Middleburg, Mrs. Jake Meylink, Mrs. H. Mouw and Mrs. Jake Mieras of Maurice, and Mr. and Mrs. J. De Zeeuw of Maurice.

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From the Alton Democrat, February 25, 1938:

SIOUX CENTER PIONEER PASSES

Wm. Bierma, a Sioux Center resident for 46 years, died at his home here at the age of 80 years. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the home and Central Ref. church in charge of the pastor, Rev. Meengs, assisted by Rev. J. M. Dykstra.

Born in the Netherlands on Oct. 8th, 1856, Wm. Bierma came to the United States with his parents when a boy, the family settling at Muskegon, Mich. Here he was married to Aaltje Kolkena and eight children were born to the union, of whom three died in infancy. The surviving children are Mrs. Minnie Schut of Sioux Center; Mrs. Fred Schneider of Madison, S. Dak.; Ben Bierma and John Bierma of Sioux Center; Mrs. Ed Bolluyt, Orange City.

The family came to Sioux Center forty-six years ago. Mrs. Bierma passed on six years ago. Two years later Mr. Bierma married Mrs. Florence Jansen, who survives her husband. The services Tuesday were on the fourth anniversary of the couple’s marriage. Mr. Bierma is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Wm. Winter, 83, of Muskegon, Mich.; by eighteen grandchildren and a number of great grandchildren.

One of the early carpenters here, Mr. Bierma was always a very active man and continued in good health to within a few weeks of his death, which was caused by a heart attack. He was devoted to his home and family and interested in church affairs. Among the many who came for the services the most distant was Mrs. Wm. Wiebenga of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Bierma’s daughter, who arrived Monday.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate gives his birth date as Oct. 8, 1857; parents’ names not known to the informant, John Bierma; last worked as a carpenter in June 1934; died at 11:30 a.m. February 18, 1938 of cardiac failure.

His FindaGrave.com page shows him as born 8 Oct 1857 in Uithuizermeeden, Eemsmond Municipality, Groningen, Netherlands. Spouses Aaltje Alice Kolkema Bierma (1856-1931, married 1884) and Frouke Van Dam Bierma (1859-1940, married 1934).

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Willem Bierma, born 8 Oct 1857 in Uithuizermeeden, Groningen; parents Berent Willems Bierma, age 41, a day laborer, and Wilhelmina Jan van der Veen.

The 1900 U.S. census for Sioux Center shown William Bierma (41), a carpenter, immigrated in 1883, an alien, married 15 years; wife Ella (42), and children Minnie (13, birth place rubbed out), Maggie (10, born in Michigan), Bennie (8, born in Michigan), John (6, born in Iowa), and Susan (5, born in Iowa). The 1920 census says he is a house carpenter, immigrated in 1881, naturalized. The 1930 census still shows him working as a house carpenter; owns his house, worth $1,200; he immigrated in 1880 and Aaltje in 1881; both are naturalized.

The certificate for his second marriage shows him as age 76, retired, resident of Sioux Center; bride Flora Jansen, maiden name Flora Van Dam, age 75, born in the Netherlands, resident of Sioux Center, parents Jerry Van Dam and Anna Vander Molen; second marriage for both; married in Sioux Center on 22 Feb 1934.