Engelsman, John (Rev.), 1864-1938

ENGELSMAN, BOSCH, NIENHUIS, HUIZENGA, VANDEWAA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Sioux County Capital, May 12, 1938:

[The following is what could be gleaned from the first three paragraphs of the obit, half of which was buried in the binding margin of the newspaper]: [Rev. John] Engelsma[n], 74, retired Reformed church [minister] died at 12:10 a.m. at his home, 25 East 22nd. He had been in ill health and became [much worse?] about three weeks [ago?]. He suffered a cerebral [hemorrhage?]. Death is attributed to pneumonia. He was born in Uithuizermeed, Netherlands. Neither his parents nor any of his brothers [and sisters?] are living. He studied at Hope College and [a] theological seminary.

... being graduated from the latter institution in 1898. He served his first charge, the Dutch Reformed church of Friesland, Wis. for seven years. Other churches he served were at Rock Valley, Ia., for three years, Orange City, Ia. for 17 years and his last charge at Randolph, Wis. for 6½ years. He retired and came to Holland in November, 1931.

He married Miss Margaret Nienhuis of Chicago and to this union were born Henry John and Jacob Engelsman. Another daughter, Elizabeth Margaret, died at the age of nine months. Mrs. Engelsman died in Friesland, Wis. Later he married Miss Margaret Huizenga of Rock Valley, Ia. They had one child, Anna May. The second Mrs. Engelsman died in Orange City, Ia. In 1909 Rev. Engelsman married Miss Cornelia Johanna Vande Waa. Their children are John Cornelius, Arthur Allen and Mrs. Russell Redeker, nee Alice Engelsman.

Rev. Engelsman is survived by the widow and all the children. Mrs. Redeker resides at Primghar, Ia. John C. is taking graduate work at the Louisiana State university at Baton Rouge.

Rev. Engelsman was at one time a member of the board of superintendents of Western Theological seminary and the board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed church, secretary of the board of the Northwestern Classical academy at Orange City, Ia., and treasurer of the Arabian Syndicate of Reformed church. He served temporarily as professor of the chair of Bible at the Northwestern Classical academy at Orange City, Ia. At the time of his death he was a member of Trinity Reformed church.

In 1910, Rev. Engelsman returned to The Netherlands for a visit with his aged mother. In 1914 he was a member of a conducted party of 14 which toured the Holy Land on a three months trip.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. from the home with the Rev. William Wolvius officiating. Public services will be held in Trinity church at 2 p.m. with the Rev. H. D. Terkeurst. Prof. Thomas E. Welmers and Rev. Wolvius in charge. Burial will be in Rest Lawn cemetery.

Pall bearers will be Prof. Welmers, Rev. Wolvius, Dr. Seth Van der Werf, Dr. W. J. Van Kersen, the Rev. J. F. Schortinghuis and the Rev. P. Wiersma. The body was taken to the Baron Funeral home in Zeeland and will be returned to the residence here tomorrow at 3 p.m. – Tuesday, May 3, 1938 Holland (Mich.) Evening Sentinel.

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A similar obituary was published (in Dutch) in De Volksvriend, May 12, 1938. It adds to the compromised part of the obituary by saying that he had been ill for more than two years; was born 6 March 1864 in Uithuizermeeden, Netherlands, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Engelsman; came to America at age 25 and settled at Holland, Michigan; was trained as a teacher [or minister] there, first at Hope College and later at the Western Theological Seminary, graduating from the latter in 1898.

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From the Sioux County Capital, May 19, 1938 – Letter to the Editor from H. Van’t Kerkhoff, Hamilton, Mich., May 6, 1938:

No doubt the Orange City papers published the news about the death of Rev. Engelsman. I feel that many of the older ones in your town might be interested about the funeral services…. [H]aving had Rev. Engelsman as my pastor, there are so many memories connected with his ministry. He influenced the lives of many people and he was used to bring comfort and the trust of God to many.

On May 6th funeral services were held for Rev. Engelsman in the Trinity Reformed church of Holland, Mich. Rev. Wolvius, a retired minister and friend of the deceased, spoke about the early life and training of Rev. Engelsman. Having received a christian home training he was always a defender of the faith of the fathers. Rev. Wolvius stated that many who had been under the pastorate of the departed brother, call him blessed. Professor Welmers who for many years was president of the N.W.C.A. and now professor at Hope College spoke about the words of Jacob to Pharoah: “Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.” The speaker spoke of the ministers constant contact with sin, and how brother Engelsman always felt that he was a pilgrim, looking for a building in the heavens.

Rev. Ter Keurst spoke briefly to the family. He recalled that in the days when Rev. Engelsman was at Orange City it was known in the Seminary that the deceased was a theologian, and an ardent student of Bavinck and Abraham Kuyper. Rev. Ter Keurst mentioned that a few years ago it had been his privilege to speak in the First Reformed church of Orange City and felt that often Rev. Engelsman must have taken his people of his church and the community to the throne of grace. The speaker pointed us all to Jesus, and asked the family to rejoice because of the service and devotion of the departed.

And personally I was saddened by this death. When one goes back to the first religious impressions and then thinks of the minister of God who first directed these through the church service you cannot but thank God that men like Engelsman were called to the ministry. We remember that often the departed brought comfort to sorrowing hearts, preached the word, led catechism classes, prayed with us and for us, and it is indeed marvelous that God brings blessings through the ministry. The departed was not without his mistakes as we too must confess our errors. But we remember that the Father brings forth out of human lives great blessings. And so those of us who knew Rev. Engelsman thank God for his calling, service and ministry.

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His death certificate shows him as Rev. John Engelsman; residence 25 East 22nd St., Holland, Ottawa County, Michigan; wife Cornelia Johanna Van De Waa; born March [illegible] 1864 in Uithuizermeeden, Netherlands; parents Jacob Engelsman and Hendrika Bosch; died at 12:10 a.m. May 3, 1938; cause, cerebral apoplexy, duration 6 days; contributory cause, senility; buried in Rest Lawn, Holland, Mich.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his birth date as 6 March 1864 in Uithuizermeeden, Eemsmond Municipality, Groningen, Netherlands; died 3 May 1938; buried in Restlawn Memorial Garden, Holland, Mich.; wives Margaret Neinhuis Engelsman (1867-1906, married 1898) and Cornelia Johanna Vande Waa Engelsman (1875-1957, married 1909; children Henry J. (1900-1961), J. Edward (1902-1973), Anna May Engelsman Teusink (1908-1988), John C. (1910-1994), Arthur A. (1912-1970), and Alice H. Redeker (1914-1989). There is a photo of his headstone, and a portrait photo of him as a youngish man.

The 1910 U.S. census shows him living in Orange City with wife Cornelia J. (his third marriage, her first) and children Henry J. (10), Jacob E. (8), both born in Wisconsin, and Anna M. (1), born in Iowa. He immigrated in 1889 and is naturalized.

There are separately posted obituaries of his two previous wives: Margaret Nieuhuis Engelsman (1867-1906) and Margaret Huizenga Engelsman (1874-1908), and of his young daughter, which give additional family information.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1909/1910 has an entry for groom John Engelsman, age 46, Orange City, a clergyman, born in Uithuizermeeden, Netherlands, parents Jacob Engelsman and Hendrikje Bosch, third marriage; bride Cornelia Johanna Van de waa, age 35, Orange City, born in Orange City, parents H. J. Van de waa and Aaltje Van de Steeg, first marriage; married in Orange City November 9, 1909.