Geurink, Dirk, 1879-1939

GEURINK, GROOTNIBBELINK

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/24/2021 at 08:31:01

From the Sioux County Capital, January 4, 1940, Alton news:

Dirk Geurink is Dead

Friends received word Saturday of the death of Dirk Geurink of Cutterville, Mich. where he had been in an institution since the death of his parents Mr. and Mrs. Evert Geurink.

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From De Volksvriend, January 4, 1940:

Mr. William Geurink was informed that his brother Dirk Geurink, aged over 61 years, had died in the Cutlerville hospital. Burial was also in Michigan.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His FindaGrave.com page has Dirk Geurink, born 1879, died 1939, buried in Blain Cemetery, Cutlerville, Michigan, with a photo of his headstone. No other information.

Obituaries of his parents show them to have been Evert Geurink (1830-1913) and Evertdina Grootnibbelink Geurink (1838-1906). The 1900 U.S. census shows the Evert Geurink family farming in Nassau Township, Sioux County, including Derk, age 19, born July 1880 in Holland, immigrated 1881, a farm laborer, can read, write, and speak English. The 1910 census shows Derk Geurink, age 30, occupation “own income,” living in Nassau Township with his brother Henry, a farmer, and Henry’s family; it gives his immigration year as 1884, and says he can read but not write. In the 1920 census he (as Dick) is still living in Nassau Township with his brother Henry and family, occupation “none.”

He was not found in the 1930 census. However, this census shows WILLIAM Geurink, age 50, unable to read or write, born in Holland, immigrated in 1882, as a patient in the Christian Psychopathic Hospital, Cutlerville, Michigan. (This is probably Dirk; William seems to have been living near Orange City at this time.)

(De Volksvriend published a number of articles (in Dutch) about the Cutlerville hospital in the 1920s. Founded near Grand Rapids in 1910, it was strongly associated with the Dutch community and the Reformed Church in this vicinity and in Iowa.)

Dirk perhaps entered the hospital shortly before mid-1924. From De Volksvriend, July 3, 1924, Alton news – The C. Wissinks visited the Cutlerville hospital and met three patients, including Dirk Geurink. Dirk is having a good time and values religion and the good treatment he is receiving. “We are glad that under the providence of God there is an institution for our sick.”