Hoekstra, Peter 1880-1968 & Elizabeth Wiersma Family

HOEKSTRA, WIERSMA, DOUMA, MINKEMA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/5/2024 at 05:51:36

Hoekstra, Peter 1880-1968 & Elizabeth Wiersma Family

This story was taken from pages 378-379 of the Maurice Centennial Book (1891-1991). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg .

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hoekstra came to the United States from the Netherlands in October of 1912, with two children: Marian, age 5 and Gertrude, age 2. Mr. Hoekstra was born in 1880, and Mrs. Hoekstra (Elizabeth Wiersma) was born in 1883. Mr. Hoekstra’s brother, John, had come to the United States two years earlier and found a small house in Maurice, for Peter and Elizabeth and family to live in.

Peter was a baker in Holland, but in the United States he did day labor at any job that was available. In the winter he helped scoop coal off the rail cars and in the spring and summer he worked for various farmers.

After a couple of years, they moved to an acreage, one mile west and ½ mile south of Maurice, with ten acres where he had chickens, two cows, horses and buggy. John Schlesser had helped get him started on this farm. John came one day to see how Pete was planting his corn. He found that he was putting four kernels of corn to a hill. John said that it was planted too thick. Pete said, “I plant one for the birds one for the squirrels and two for me.”

A flu epidemic hit the area. Many of their friends died with it. Almost every household was down but they had neighbors who all helped one another. Mr. and Mrs. Will Van Peursem made chicken soup every day and went from home to home helping out where help was needed, feeding the sick. And their pastor, Rev. John Vander Beek was a servant sent from God who went from house to house turning washing machines and helping everyone that he could.

From there they moved to the Struble area, where they farmed until 1929, when they moved to the farm ½ mile south of Maurice. In the corn picking season, of course, it was all done by hand. The children would miss school for a month or six weeks to help. They always had a big garden, raising their own vegetables and made their own butter and bread.

They purchased their first car, a Ford from Henry De Jong for $150.00; quite a change from riding in a horse-drawn buggy or wagon.

As with most farmers, tough times were felt in the depression years. Pete had hogs to sell and could hardly get 3¢ a pound for them. They were often hailed out or dried out but with God’s help they made it.

When they semi-retired they bought an acreage ¼ mile east of Maurice, and built a new house and several other farm buildings. Pete liked to have just a few cows and other livestock as that was his way of life. Mr. Hoekstra is remembered by many, driving his little Ford tractor into town as he didn’t have a driver’s license. He made many trips into Maurice, just for relaxation.

Peter had a long illness with leukemia. His daughter, Alyda, took care of him until he passed away in 1963. Elizabeth passed away in 1969. Both are buried in the Sherman Township Cemetery.

They had six children: Marian (Mrs. Herman Wassenaar), born in 1907; Gertrude (Mrs. Robert Ver Mulm), born in 1910; Alyda (Mrs. Albert Dekker), born in 1913; Jake born in 1915; Harry, born in 1918; and Ellsworth born in 1923. Jake passed away in 1972, and Ellsworth passed away in 1987.
(end of story in the Maurice book)

RESEARCH notes: From family reports on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter.

Peter J. Hoekstra was born 18 Sep 1880 Ee, Friesland, Netherlands died 26 Nov 1963 Sioux City IA He was the son of Jacob Rienders Hoekstra 1846-1916 and Grietje Johannes Douma 1852-1918. He married Elizabeth Wiersma April 1906 and came to the USA in 1912.

Elizabeth Wiersma was born 4 April 1883 Dronrijp, Friesland Netherlands and died 14 Nov 1969 Maurice IA. She was the daughter of Dirk Douwes Wiersma 1857-1933 and Sjoukje Durks Minkema 1855-1926. Peter and Elizabeth had six children:

CHILDREN: From obits on this web page and ancestry.com vitals.

1. Marion ‘Susan’ Hoekstra born 5 Jun 1907 Steens Neth died 21 Jun 2000 Mossyrock, WA, Semarried Herman Wassenaar Children: one son, Gerald, Tigard, Ore.; two daughters, Betty Duncan, Portland, Ore., and Kathleen Kinnaman, Olympia, Wash.,  See her obit on this page under Susan Wassenaar Mrs. Herman 1907-2000.

2. Gertrude Hoekstra born 10 Feb 1910 Appledoorn, Netherlands died 6 Jun 1998 Sioux Center IA She married Robert Ver Mulm. Children:  her son and his wife, Peter and Werna Ver Mulm of Sioux Center; two daughters and their husbands, Wilma and Gerald Neis of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Ruth and Fred Siersma of Denver, Colo See her obit on this web page as Ver Mulm, Gertrude 1910-1998.

3. Alyda Henrietta Hoekstra born 6 Jun 1913 Maurice IA died 30 Aug 2000 Orange City IA She married Albert Dekker born 1909 Child listed Peter John Dekker 1935-1935 and others. two sons and their wives, Paul and Joan Dekker of Maurice; and Dennis and Elaine Dekker of Sioux Center; a daughter and her husband. Lila and Harold Kosters of Orange City: a daughter in law, Delores (Earle) Dekker of Sheldon. See he obit on this web page under Dekker, Alyda H. Mrs. Albert 1913-2000)

4 Jake P. Hoekstra born 9 May 1915 Maurice IA died 29 Dec 1972 Maurice IA He married Gladys Marietta de Jager 1916-2010. Children - Russell of Calif.- Harold of Orange City, Glenda (Mrs. John Van Veldhuizen) of Schaller, IA; Larry of Orange City, Marlene, (Mrs. Gary Heerde) of Sheldon and Randy at home. See Jake’s obit on this web page under Hoekstra Jake P. 1915-1973.

5. Harry Dick Hoekstra born 2 Apr 1918 Maurice IA died 7 Sep 2006 Sioux City IA buried in Maurice cemetery. She married Sadie Esther Van Roekel 1923-1983. They had two daughters, Ruth, and her husband, Gary Grohs, of Sioux City; and Charlotte Kramer, of Wichita, Kansas; a daughter-in-law, Nanci Jahn, of Orange City. he was preceded in death by two sons, Rodney and David Jahn

6. Ellsworth Peter Hoekstra born 27 Dec 1923 Struble IA died 8 Apr 1987 Sioux City IA buried Maurice IA. He was single. See his obit on this web page under Hoekstra, Ellsworth 1923-1987 .

OBITUARY OF PETER HOEKSTRA 1880-1963
Sioux County Capital of Dec 5, 1963
Services held for Peter Hoekstra
Funeral services for Mr. Peter Hoekstra, 83, of Maurice, were held last Friday, services taken place at the First Reformed church in Maurice.
Mr. Hoekstra was born in the Netherlands on Sept. 18, 1880. He was married on April 25, 1906 to Miss Elizabeth Wiersma. In Oct. of 1912 they came to the United States, and lived in the Maurice vicinity, where they have resided until his death, Nov, 26, 1963. He is survived by his widow and six children, (Marion) Mrs. Herman Wassenaar of Aljune?, Wash., (Gertrude) Mrs, Robert Ver Mulm of Carnes, (Lyda) Mrs. Albert Dekker, Jake and Harry of Maurice, and also Ellsworth, who is at home.
There are 19 grandchildren, 2 of whom preceded him in death, and ten great grandchildren. Also surviving are 3 sisters, one in Chicago and 2 in Holland. Also 2 brothers in Holland. One sister and three brothers preceded him in death.

OBITUARY OF ELIZABETH HOEKSTRA 1883-1969
Source: Sioux County Capital (11-20-1969)
Birth: April 4, 1883 Death: November 14, 1969
Services held for Mrs. Peter Hoekstra
Funeral services for Mrs. Peter Hoekstra, 86, of Maurice were held on Monday, November 17, at the First Reformed Church in Maurice. Reverend Donald Lenderink was in charge of the service. Burial was made in Sherman Township Cemetery in Maurice under the direction of the Van Etten Funeral Home.
Elizabeth Wiersma was born April 4, 1883 in the Netherlands. She came to Sioux County, in 1912.
She married Peter Hoekstra on April 25, 1906.
She is survived by six children; Mrs. Herman (Marion) Wassenaar, Mossyrock, Washington; Mrs. Robert (Gertrude) Ver Mulm, Alton; Mrs. Albert (Alydia) Dekker, Jake, Harry, Ellsworth all of Maurice, one brother, Dick Wiersma of Sanborn; sixteen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Preceding her in death was her husband on November 26, 1963 and two brothers.
Pallbearers were Paul Dekker, Dennis Dekker, Harold Hoekstra, Larry Hoekstra and Peter Ver Mulm.

Picture was taken from page 378 of the Maurice book.

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