Duven, Mrs. Rose (Died 2003)

DUVEN, PORTER

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 1/22/2006 at 20:13:04

Publication unknown (from Perham, Minnesota), July 17, 2003:

Mrs. Rose Duven

Once upon a time there was a family named LaPorte that lived in the far away country called France. During the crusade against the Calvinists, they were driven to the country of Holland where the family then was called Porte. At the young age of one year, Jacob John Porte, now changed to Porter, sailed to the shores of the United States of America where they located in Grand Rapids, Mich. Jacob was the son of a farmer and for many years this family worked the farming states of Illinois and South Dakota. They would plant, pick, and harvest corn, celery and wheat. In ten years this family moved eight times. Then one day he was richly rewarded by winning the heart and hand of one who was to become his wife, Dora Heemstra. Jacob and Dora were married the following year in January of 1912 at the home of her parents near Monroe, S.D. This was a double wedding ceremony officiated by Rev. Anthony J. Haverkamp. Following this ceremony they returned to an 80 acre farm south of Orange City, Iowa where they started life’s journey together. Their first addition to the family was twin girls who were born at their farmhome on December 8, 1912. Rosie Alice and Dorothy Mae each weighed just two lbs. The oven was used as an incubator and they were fed with an eye dropper. Dorothy Mae passed away 12 days later in their home. The family then moved to Sioux County, Iowa where Rosie became known as Rosa and spent her early years there. Her schooling was at a country grade school and later at high school. She graduated from the Northwestern Academy at Orange City, Iowa. Rosa lived with her grandparents while attending the academy at which time her parents moved to a farm just north and east of Inwood, Iowa. Subsequent to her graduation, Rosa was the head cook at the hospital in Orange City. On November 8, 1935 she was united in marriage with Wilson Henry Duven, the oldest of four children born to William Matthew and Tillie Marie De Jong Duven. They were married at the Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City where she had made profession of her faith. It was at this time that Rosa became known to Wilson as Rose. Following their marriage, Rose and Wilson located in Ashton, Iowa. Wilson, a second generation operator of a furniture and undertaking business, did the same while living in Ashton. Rose and Wilson and their four children: Marleen Ann, Roger Dean, Sharon Rae and Barbara Jane, resided there for 19 years. Opportunities for education and community services were somewhat limited for their children while living there, so in July of 1954, the family relocated to Pella, Iowa. Wilson purchased the Van Dyk Funeral Home from his mortuary school classmate, John M. Van Dyk. Rose and Wilson enjoyed the remaining nearly 60 years of their married life in Pella. They enjoyed their summer cottage near Perham and were privileged to travel to Europe, Hong Kong, China, North Africa and Alaska. Rose was an active member of the First Reformed Church in Pella and was honored by both the Classis and the Guild. She was a longtime member of the Central College Auxiliary, the Pella Community Hospital Auxiliary and the Literary Society. On Friday evening, July 4, 2003, Rose passed away in the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella at the age of 90 years, six months and 26 days.

Those who will cherish her memory are her four children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. They and their families are: Marleen and Jerry D. Rempe of Leighton, Iowa, Candace and David Connell of St. Louis, Mo., Jacob, Michelle Simons and (end of available text)