Dykstra, Charles, 1868-1939

DYKSTRA, VANSURKSUM, HOLKEBOER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas -- Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/21/2023 at 09:14:33

From the Sioux City News, January 4, 1940 [transcription on FindaGrave.com]:

Mr. Charles Dykstra, 71 died at his home in Rock Valley, Wednesday morning following a lingering illness.

Mr. Dykstra was born March 7, 1868 in Providence Friesland Netherlands. He came to America 51 years ago. The past twenty-two years he resided in Rock Valley. Prior to this he and Mrs. Dykstra were engaged in farming living six years near Rock Valley and ten years near Perkins. On April 7, 1893 at LeMars, Iowa, he was married to Artie Van Surksum and to this union seven children were born. A daughter Jessie preceded him in death at the age of ten years.

Those who survived him are his widow and children, Mrs. Johanna Wynia of Rock Valley, Mrs. Dena Van Gelderen of Fairview, SD., John, Gerrit, Charles Jr., and Mrs. Jessie Bonthuls all of Rock Valley. He also leaves three sisters, Mrs. Jake Baas of Pease Minn., Mrs. E. Dykstra of Rock Valley, Mrs. S. Goslinga of Orange City and five grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Saturday, December 30, 1939 at 1:00 p.m. from the home and at 1:30 from the First Reformed Church of Rock Valley. The Rev. Mr. J. Aberson officiated. Burial was in the Rock Valley cemetery

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From the Sioux County Capital, January 4, 1940:

CHARLES DYKSTRA, SR.

Charles Dykstra, sr. died at his home in Rock Valley on Dec. 27, 1939 at 3:30 a.m. following a lingering illness of several months.

He was born on March 7, 1868 in Harum, Friesland, The Netherlands, and had reached the age of seventy-one. In 1888 he came to this country settling first at Rock Rapids, and since then lived in the vicinity of Rock Valley for many years, and for the past years lived in town.

In 1893 he was married to Aartje Van Surksum, and to this union seven children were born. One daughter Jessie died at the age of ten, the others who survive are Dena, Mrs. J. Van Gelderen of Fairview, S.D., Mrs. Johanna Wynia, Mrs. Martin Bonthuis (Jessie) and John, Charles, jr. and Gerrit all of here. There are also five grandchildren. Three sisters also survive, Mrs. J. Baas of Pease, Minn., Mrs. S. Goslinga of Orange City and Mrs. E. Dykstra of here.

Funeral services were held on Saturday at 1 o’clock at the home and 1:30 at the church. Rev. Mr. H. J. Aberson officiated with Rev. Mr. H. J. Triezenberg assisting in the Dutch language. A quartet composed of Gilbert and Stanley De Zeeuw, Al Vander Berg and Walter Vander Well, jr. sang. Pall bearers were C. Harthoorn, Henry Vugeveen, R. Attema, Fred De Jong, A. G. Vander Meer and Gerrit Lems.

Many of the courthouse staff and other friends including M. J. Van Wyk, A. Balkema, C. Hoeven and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dykstra of Orange City came for the services.

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Obituaries appeared in other area newspapers as well. The Alton Democrat (January 5, 1940, Rock Valley news) adds that he died of cancer. The Rock Valley newspaper is missing for this time period.

His death certificate adds his parents, John Dykstra and Jessie Holkeboer, both born in the Netherlands; died at 2:30 p.m. December 27, 1939; cause, carcinoma of spine, duration 1 year, primary site of lesion not determined, probably pancreas.

FindaGrave.com shows him as Charley “Schelte" Dykstra; born in Arum, Sudwest Fryslan Municipality, Friesland; parents Jan Gerrits Dijkstra (1823-1881) and Jetsche Holkeboer Dykstra (1831-1911); spouse Aartje Van Surksum Dykstra (1875-1946). Seven siblings and five of his children are listed. There are photos of him and Aartje, and of their joint headstone (which shows him as Charley).

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Schelte Dijkstra, born 8 March 1868 in Friesland; parents Jan Gerrits Dijkstra and Jetske Eeltjes Holkeboer.

The Plymouth County, Iowa marriage register for 1892/1893 has groom Charley Dykstra, age 24, resident of Le Mars, Iowa, a laborer, born in Holland, parents John Dykstra and Jennie Holkalbau; bride Artie M. Sucksum, age 20, resident of Le Mars, born in Orange City, Iowa, parents Gerit Sucksum and Nanna Mould; married in Le Mars April 8, 1893.