Iowa Old Press
Alton Democrat, Alton, (Sioux), Iowa, Friday, March 20, 1931, Page 1, Column
4:
MRS. SAMUEL HEEMSTRA IS SUMMONED
Mother of Twelve Children Dies After Short Illness of Influenza
Mrs. Sam Heemstra died last Friday, at her home in Orange City, her illness
being caused by influenza. She was 70 years of age.
Mrs. Heemstra was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Westerbaan and was born at
Arum, in Friesland, the Netherlands. She was married to Mr. Sam Heemstra at
Arum on March 30, 1878, and in the year 1888 they came to America with their
little family, locating in Sioux county. One of the children died at the age
of four while the family still resided in the Netherlands, and in 1930, Mrs.
Cynthia Reeves passed away at her home near LeMars. Ten of the children, all
splendid citizens, survive, as follows:
Joe, Hospers, Iowa; Harry, Monroe, S. D.; Will, Naperville, Ill.; John,
Plymouth, Iowa; Dora, Mrs. Jake Porter, Inwood, Iowa; Gertie, Mrs. M.
Schaefer, Monroe, S. D.; Bert, Orleans, Minn.; Jake, Monroe, S. D.; Rev.
Gerritt Heemstra, Oxford, England; Grace, Mrs. John Van Pelt, LeMars, Iowa;
also forty grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
All of the children were present at the funeral services except two--Bert,
of Orleans, Minn., who was prevented from coming by the great snowstorm
which was raging at the time, and Rev. Gerritt Heemstra, missionary to
Palestine and at present at Oxford, England. Rev. Heemstra expects to come
home as soon as he has gone to the Netherlands to visit his mother's sister
who resides in that country.
Funeral services for the dearly beloved mother were held at the First
Christian Ref. church at Orange City Monday with the pastor R. Bronkema,
officiating. A great host of friends attended the services held in her
memory.
Mr. Heemstra expects to make his home in the future at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Martin Schaefer, and family at Monroe, S. D. The host of
friends of the family in Sioux county unite in sympathy for the family in
their great bereavement.