Leemkuil, Gertrude (Mrs. Henry), 1849-1941

LEEMKUIL, LEMKUIL, WIEKAMP

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/19/2022 at 21:56:01

From the Alton Democrat, September 26, 1941, Hospers news:

Mrs. Gertrude Leemkuil

Funeral services were held at the First Reformed church last Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Gertrude Leemkuil, who passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14th, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Herman Kleinhexel, in Leeds at the age of 92 years, death being caused by senility.

Mrs. Leemkuil, nee Gertrude Wiekamp, was born on Aug. 23, 1849, and lived her early life near Oostburg, Wis. Here she was united in marriage to Henry Leemkuil in 1872 and immediately following the marriage the young couple came to Hospers where they settled on land east of town. They farmed there for many years, retiring and moving to Hospers in 1920.

To this union were born six children, two preceding their mother in death. Mr. Leemkuil died in the summer of 1932 and since them Mrs. Leemkuil made her home with her children. Surviving are two sons, John of Sheldon and Dick of Hospers, two daughters, Anna, Mrs. Herman Kleinhexel of Leeds and Nellie, Mrs. G. Kronemeyer of Hospers, one brother, John Wiekamp of Sheldon, besides a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rev. G. Dokter had charge of the funeral services at the First Ref. church where the deceased had been an early charter member. Burial was in the family lot at the Presbyterian cemetery east of town. Pall bearers were six grandsons of the deceased.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Her death certificate (informant J. H. Lemkuil, Sheldon) has Gertrude Johanna Lemkuil, widow of Henry Lemkuil; resident of Leeds, Woodbury County, Iowa, where she had lived 3 years; born August 26, 1849 in Holland; father John Wiekamp, mother’s name unknown to the informant; died at 1:45 p.m. September 14, 1941; cause, acute gastro enteritis, duration 3 days; other conditions, general debility of old age; buried in Hospers Presbyterian Cemetery.

Her FindaGrave.com page has Johanna Gertrude Wiekamp Leemkuil; born 26 Aug 1853 in Winterswijk, Gelderland, Netherlands; died 14 Sep 1943 in Hospers; buried in Hospers Memorial Cemetery. It includes a photo of her headstone, which also gives these dates. Father: John Hendrik Wiekamp (1818-1885). Two siblings listed: Wilhelmina Wiekamp Leemkuil (1856-1937) and John Henry Wiekamp (1859-1933). Husband Hendrikus Leemkuil (1844-1931) [his headstone says Hendrik Leemkuil 1845-1931]. Four children listed: John H. Leemkuil (1873-1944), Dick H. Leemkuil (1875-1953), Nellie C. Leemkuil Kronemeyer (1886-1956), and Gertrude Leemkuil (1888-1896). [Transcriber’s note: Her headstone appears a great deal newer than her husband’s, which may account for the discrepancy in her birth and death dates; perhaps the family’s memory had faded.]

The 1900 U.S. census for Baker Township, O’Brien County has Henry Lemkuil, age 54, married 27 years, born June 1845 in Holland, immigrated 1869, naturalized, a farmer; wife Johanna G., age 50, mother of 6 children 4 living, born August 1849 in Holland, immigrated 1856; children Derk (24), a farm laborer, and Nellie (14), both born in Iowa. In 1920 they are still farming there; their son Dick and his family live next door.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index entry for Johanna Wiekamp, born 23 Oct 1849 at Huppel, Winterswijk, Gelderland, parents Gerrit Willem Wiekamp and Theodora Oonk.