Jensma, Maggie (Mrs. Lieuwe), 1868-1939

JENSMA, JANSMA, LAFOIRE, LAPOIRE, LAPORE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/14/2021 at 10:13:24

From the Sioux Center News, September 14, 1939:

Mrs. Maggie Jansma, 71, who three years ago in April left Hull to take a room in the Sheldon Holland home, was fatally burned Friday when she lit a match to sterilize a needle.

She opened the door of her room and called for help, thereby creating a draft since the window of her room was also open. By the time help came she was a mass of flames. She was rushed to the hospital where she died the following day.

Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Sheldon home and at the Hull cemetery, with Rev. Vis of Sheldon officiating.

Survivors include one brother Dick, also a resident of the Home, one brother in Kansas, and one son Albert who lives in California.

* * * * * * * * * *

An obituary in the Sioux County Capital (September 14, 1939) is partially cut off in the left-hand margin, but provides additional information:

[Aged?] Woman Fatally Burned

Mrs. Lewis Jansma of the Holland Home, Sheldon, died Saturday morning of burns received [Friday?] while she was attempting [missing] medicine. Mrs. Jansma had been suffering with diabetes and [missing] spilled alcohol on her [missing]. She struck a match [while] preparing her medicine and her clothes caught fire. The [flames] could not be extinguished [and?] the elderly woman was fatally burned.

Mrs. Jansma was born in the Netherlands 71 years ago. She was married to Lewis Jansma in Hull [missing] one son, Albert survives her. [Mr.] Jansma died six years ago.

Funeral services for Mrs. Jansma were held in the Holland [home] chapel Tuesday with Rev. [missing] Vis officiating and the body [missing] Hull for interment in the [missing] cemetery.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Hawarden Independent, September 21, 1939:

Burns suffered when her clothing caught fire in her room in the Holland Home for the Aged at Sheldon, were fatal to Mrs. Lou Jensma, 71, Sept. 8th. When Mrs. Jensma struck a match on the bottom side of a table the fringe caught fire and the flames spread to her clothing. She made her way to the hall and M. Vander Velde and Herman Pakkibier, also occupants of the home, wrapped her in blankets to smother the flames. However, before the flames were extinguished she had suffered burns on the front part of her body, her face and arms and she died that night. Mrs. Jensma had resided in the Home four years, previously having lived at Hull. She is survived by a son and two brothers.

* * * * * * * * * *

RESEARCH NOTES

A brief article on her death in De Volksvriend (Sept. 14) also calls her Mrs. Jensma, and says that the accident occurred on the third floor of the home. She came out of her room in full flames and eight men sitting in the lobby immediately came to her rescue and wrapped her in a blanket.

Her death certificate (informant’s signature, Albert Jensma) has Maggie Jansma, widow of Liewe Jansma, born June 24, 1868 in the Netherlands, parents Aalt Lafoira[?] and Margje Van De Strek[?]; resident of the Holland Home 3 years 5 months; died in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Sheldon, at 10:15 p.m. Sept. 8, 1939; cause, severe burns of legs, abdomen, chest and face; contributory causes, diabetes and senility.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index lists her and her husband under the surname Jensma: Lieuwe Jensma, 1857-1953, and Maggie Jensma, 1868-1939, buried in Hope Cemetery, Hull. The Iowa Gravestones Photo Project has photos of their headstones, confirming the spelling Jensma.

Her FindaGrave.com page has her as Maggie La Foire Jensma, born 1868 in the Netherlands; died 8 Sep 1939 in Hull; buried in Hope Cemetery; spouse Lieuwe Gerlof Jensma (1857-1935, married 1900); son Albert Jensma (1902-1997). Unattributed notes add that she married Lieuwe Gerlof “Lou” Jensma in 1900 in Prairie View, Kansas, and give her son Albert’s full life dates as March 17, 1902 to Feb. 20, 1997.

The 1910 U.S. census for Lincoln Township, Sioux County shows Louis (53) and Maggie (41) Jansma, married 10 years, living with Maggie’s brothers John Lapore (head of house) and Dirck Lapore. Also living with them are two nephews of John: Peter (19), born in Illinois, and Albert (8), born in Kansas. Louis immigrated in 1890 and is naturalized; Maggie and her brothers immigrated in 1896. The men are working out as farm laborers.

The 1930 census for Lincoln township shows Maggie Jensma (62), married (at age 32) but with no husband living with her, a farmer, immigrated in 1900, naturalized; and her son Albert (28), single, working as a farm laborer.

Lieuwe Jensma’s obituary (posted separately) says that Maggie La Poire was his third wife, his first two having died; in 1914 he was taken to the County Home at Orange City where he spent the rest of his life.