Moorlag, Dirk “Dedde,” 1868-1938

MOORLAG, NYMEYER, NIEMEYER, LUBBERTS

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

From the Sioux Center News, May 26, 1938:

Rock Valley - Dirk Moorlag, who recently underwent an operation at the University Hospital at Iowa City passed away there at 4 a.m., Sunday morning, May 22, 1938.

Mr. Moorlag was born in Groningen, Netherlands, June 13, 1868, and had attained the age of 69 years, 11 months and 9 days. He came to America as a young man of eighteen years settling in South Dakota. He moved to Hull, Iowa where he lived for a while before moving to Rock Valley where he was married to Jurena Nymeyer who preceded him in death August 10, 1936. To this union were born nine children four of whom died in infancy. One daughter, Mrs. John Hendriks died 17 years ago. Those who are left to mourn are Hans Moorlag, Albert Moorlag, Mrs. John Boer and Mrs. Albert Veldkamp, all of Rock Valley, and Mrs. Martin Van Duyn of Grand Rapids, Mich., and fifteen grand children.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock and 2:00 o'clock at the Christian Reformed Church officiated by Rev. J. H. Geerlings of Hospers, Iowa. Interment will be in the Rock Valley cemetery.

(A similar obituary was published in the Sioux County Capital, May 26, 1938.)

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From the Rock Valley Bee, May 27, 1938:

D. Moorlag Died Sunday Morning

Dirk Moorlag, a long-time resident of Rock Valley and vicinity, died at the University hospital in Iowa City, at 8:30 o’clock Sunday morning, May 22. Mr. Moorlag was taken to the hospital there about two weeks ago for an operation. He withstood the operation and appeared to be getting along as well as could be expected for a time afterwards. Later complications developed which caused his death.

Mr. Moorlag was born in the Netherlands, June 13, 1869. At the age of eighteen years, he came to this country and located in Sioux county, near Hull. For thirty-two years he followed the occupation of farming in Sioux county. For the past fifteen years he resided in Rock Valley.

He was united in marriage with Jurena Neimeyer [Niemeyer], April 4, 1891. To this union nine children were born. Three of them died in infancy, and one, Anne Marie (Mrs. John Hendriks) died January 18, 1921. Mrs. Moorlag passed away at her home in Rock Valley a year and a half ago.

Mr. Moorlag was a man of quiet and unassuming disposition, a man who made friends wherever known. He was a faithful member of the Christian Reformed church for many years. He helped organize the Christian Reformed church at Hull forty-seven years ago, and he also helped organize the Christian Reformed church in Rock Valley, and he served as a member of the church board here for twenty-five years.

He is survived by his children as follows: Mrs. John Boer, Hans Moorlag, Al Moorlag, Mrs. Albert Veltkamp, all of this vicinity, and Mrs. Martin Van Duyn, of Grand Rapids, Mich. He also leaves fifteen grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, in the Hans Moorlag home in Rock Valley at 1:30, and in the Christian Reformed church at 2:00 o’clock, Rev. Geerlings, of Hospers, in charge.

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The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Moorlag, Dedde, born 13 June 1868, died 22 May 1938, Father, Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley IA. His FindaGrave.com page includes a photo of his headstone.

His death record gives his name as Dirk Moorlog; born June 13, 1869 in Nieuepickle, Netherlands, father Hans Moorlog; resident of the U.S. 51 years; retired farmer, farmed for 36 years, last worked at this occupation in 1923; died at the University of Iowa State Hospital, where he had been for 14 days; died at 3:40 a.m. May 22, 1938; causes prostatism and pelvic cellulitis; contributory causes, diabetes mellitus, acute dilutation of stomach; a prostatectomy was performed on May 19, 1938.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index entry for Dedde Moorlag, father Hans Moorlag, age 29, a farmer, mother Lummina Lubberts, born 14 June 1868 in Nieuwe Pekela, Groningen.

Ancestry.com index entries for census records and for birth/marriage records for some of his children give his forename variously as Dedde, Dirk, Dick, or Derk.