Brommer, James, 1896-1938

BROMMER, BOONE, VANSETTEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Sioux Center News, July 7, 1938:

JIM BROMMER DIES IN U.S. VETERAN’S HOSPITAL
Funeral Here Friday

Word was received here of the death of James Brommer, which occurred at 12:55 P.M., Tuesday, July 5th. Jim had been a patient at the U.S. Veteran's hospital in Minneapolis for several weeks past.

Military Funeral services will be held here Friday afternoon at 1:30 at the house and 2 o'clock at Central Reformed Church, Rev. Meengs officiating. Interment will take place in the local cemetery.

James Brommer was born at Zeist, Netherlands on October 29, 1896, and came to America when a small child of 5 or 6 years. With his parents he resided in the vicinity of Sioux Center until he enlisted in the army at Sioux City in March (year blurred). He served in Battery C, 1st Field Artillery at Fort Logan, Colorado, and was discharged March 27th, 1919 at Camp Dodge, Iowa. September 23rd 1921 he married Jennie Boone, and to this union four children were born, namely Lester, 16, Donald, 12, Thelma, 10, and James Jr. 4, all of whom deeply mourn their father's death.

Jim will be remembered especially for his remarkable energy, which always kept him going even in the face of his struggle with ill health ever since the war. It is noteworthy that in spite of his sickness all these years, he always made a living for his family, and even organized and developed the Brommer Transfer Co. into a growing and profitable business. He kept in touch with all the details of the transfer business up until his very last days.

Jim was a splendid husband and father and interested always in the welfare of his family. He served as a Boy Scout committeeman ever since the troop was organized. He was an active Legionnaire, a charter member of the local post, and served it as Adjutant for the past several years.

Surviving him are his grief stricken wife and four children, and two brothers, Martin of Sioux Center, Peter of California, and one sister Anna also of California.

Mrs. Jim Brommer and children, who have been living in Minneapolis the past weeks to be near Mr. Brommer will move back to Sioux Center. Wm. Boome and Walter Bleeker motored over to get the family and their household effects last Tuesday.

(Another announcement in the same issue of the paper says that the Sioux Center stores will close Friday from 1 to 3 o’clock for his funeral.)

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From the Sioux Center News, November 30, 1939:

BROMMER TRANSFER GROWING FIRM

Short article, with two photos, about the Brommer Transfer Co., owned by Mrs. Jim Brommer and managed by Wallace Bleeker, including the following information on the company’s history:

The Brommer Transfer Company was started in 1921 by Jim Brommer, who began with a team and wagon, doing local dray work, plowing, etc. In 1923, Jim bought his first truck, for livestock hauling. By 1929 he had three trucks and the following year discontinued hauling livestock and went into the freight hauling business, with one big truck. Trips to Sioux City were made twice a week at first, gradually increasing until the trips became a daily routine. He added two more trucks and in 1935 built the large storage warehouse in which the company offices are located as well.

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Other news notes:

James Brommer could not wait till the time came that he would be drafted and called out. He therefore enlisted and will leave for Denver, Colo., in the near future (Alton Democrat, March 30, 1918, Sioux Center news).

A number of lists of addresses for “The Boys” published in the Nieuwsblad Voor Orange City indicate that he served at Fort Logan, Colorado for a month or two, then the remainder of his service at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Jim Brommer, who has been confined to his home for the past four months, left this morning for Minneapolis to be treated at the Veterans Hospital. He was taken by ambulance, accompanied by the local American Legion post commander. (Sioux Center News, Jan. 20, 1938)

A briefer obituary in the Sioux County Capital (July 7, 1938) says that he contracted tuberculosis at a military camp in Colorado.

On April 1, 1943, Jennie Brommer married farmer Henry Heemstra of Hospers (Sioux Center News, April 8, 1943). Her sons Lester and Donald took over the Brommer Transfer Co. in 1946 (Sioux Center News, March 7, 1946)

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RESEARCH NOTES

Minnesota death certificate 1938-MN-005207 adds his parents, Lute Brommer and Wilhemina Van Getten, both born in Holland; occupation, truck driver, for about 10 years, last worked at this occupation 2 years ago; died at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, 12:55 p.m. July 5, 1938; the attending physician had been treating him since January 20, 1938; cause: tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, duration unknown; contributory cause: enteritis, tuberculous, duration over 3 months.

His FindaGrave.com page shows his wife as Jennie Boone Brommer Heemstra (1902-2004). Her page gives her death date as 25 January 2004, at the age of 101. (See her obituary, posted separately)

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index entry for Jacobus Brommer, parents Lute Brommer and Willemina van Setten, born 29 Oct 1896 in Zeist, Utrecht, Netherlands.

The 1910 U.S. census shows the Brommer family to have immigrated to the U.S. in 1908.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1921/1922 has groom James Brommer, age 27, resident of Sioux Center, a farmer, parents Lulu[?!] Brommer and Wilhelmina Van Tuttn; bride Jennie Boone, age 27, resident of Orange City, born in Orange City, parents Henry Boone and Dora Kleinhesslink; married at Orange City Sept. 23, 1921.

The Application for Headstone for Military Veteran on Ancestry.com, made by P. B. Mouw, Sioux Center, Service Officer [American Legion, probably], gives his service as Private, Battery C, 1st Field Artillery, service dates March 28, 1918 to March 27, 1919; pension no. C-1 208 521.