Falkena, Anna (Mrs. Abe), 1905-1939

FALKENA, FOLKEMA, NOOMAN, VANVELDHUIZEN, VANDERVLIET

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Sioux Center News, July 6, 1939:

Mother Dies During Childbirth

Mrs. Abe Folkema, 34, succumbed to convulsions following childbirth at their home south of Ireton on Thursday [June 29] at 3 A.M. The baby, a nine pound son is living and doing fine. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the Christian Reformed church with the pastor the Rev. J. R. Van Dyke, assisted by the Rev. L. A. Brunsting of Sioux Center, conducting the services, The remains were taken to Carmel where they were interred in the family burial plot.

Mrs. Folkema was born June 27, 1907 and departed from this life on June 29, 1939. Some years ago she was united in marriage with Mr. Abe Folkema and four sons were born to this union who are Abe Jr., Evert, Fred and the newly born baby, Andrew. She is also survived by her widower, one step-daughter Coba, her mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Nooman of the Sheldon Holland home; 1 sister, Mrs. Gerrit Plantage of Hull, and five brothers, Gradus H. J. and James of Sioux Center, Henry of Doon and Teunis of Rock Valley.

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From the Hawarden Independent, July 6, 1939:

Death Follows Childbirth

The community was deeply shocked when it was reported that Mrs. Abe Folkema had passed away at her home on the Mrs. Emily Lean farm, southeast of town, June 28th. She had given birth to a baby boy the day before and besides the baby there are three sons and one daughter. The husband and children have the sympathy of all iin the loss of wife and mother so needed in a home of little ones. She was born June 27, 1905, and so was only 34 years of age.

Funeral services were held at the Christian Reformed church in Ireton Saturday with Rev. J. R. Van Dyke and Rev. L. Brunsting in charge. The services were held from the home at 1:00 p.m. and from the church at 1:30 p.m. The pall bearers were Chas. Westra, Sam Byker, G. Bos, Fred Koopmans, G. Engeltjes and T. Vollink. The funeral was largely attended by sympathising neighbors and friends.

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RESEARCH NOTES

“Cemetery Records of Sioux County” has an entry for Anna Folkema, died 29 June 1939, buried in Carmel cemetery, Plato Township; “General Burial Info: (Veldhuizen).”

No other information about her was located under the surname Folkema. However, a search on Ancestry.com for “Anna,” died in Sioux County in June 1939, produced numerous hits on “Anna Falkena,” who indeed appears to be her.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Anna Falkena, b. 1905, d. 1939, Mother, Carmel Cemetery, Carmel, IA. There are also entries for Abe Falkena (1888-1981) and Grace Falkena (1895-1933). Abe’s obituary (posted separately) shows Grace to have been his first wife; he married Anna Van Veldhuizen Sept. 27, 1934.

Her death certificate has Mrs. Anna Falkena, wife of Abe Falkena; born June 27, 1905 in Mapes, North Dakota; parents John Van Veldhuizen, born in Europe, and Effie Vander Vliet, born in the Netherlands; died in Ireton, where she had been living 1 year 6 months, at 11:30 p.m. June 28, 1939; causes, eclamptie[?] [eclampsia?], onset 6/27/39, and [illegible word]; contributory cause, myocarditis.

Her FindaGrave.com page adds her parents as Jan Van Veldhuizen (1870-1932) and Evertje Vander Vliet Van Veldhuizen Noomen (1872-1947); several siblings listed; spouse Abe Falkena (1888-1981); one child listed, Abe Junior (1935-2019). There is a photo of her headstone.

(De Volksvriend, July 6, 1939, published two brief death notices spelling her surname both Falkena and Folkena.)