Kool, Reintje “Rena” (Mrs. Cornelius), 1864-1940

KOOL, MULDER, HARTMAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/9/2022 at 22:06:33

From the Sioux County Capital, February 1, 1940:

Mrs. C. Kool died Monday morning Jan. 29 after a three weeks illness. Mrs. Kool’s maiden name was Reintje Mulder and she was born Jan. 18, 1865 in Nunspeet, Gelderland. She was married in March 1890 to Case Kool.

To this union six children were born. Those left to mourn her death are her husband and the following children: Maggie, Mrs. Van Peursem who resides in California; John Kool of Alton; Jim of Alton; Tom of Orange City and Anna, Mrs. E. Roelefson of Alton. A son Andrew preceded her in death several years ago. Also three brothers Ryer, Art and Eibert Mulder all of Alton and one sister, Mrs. Duimstra of Orange City and fourteen grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in the Reformed Church at Alton Wednesday afternoon.

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From the Alton Democrat, February 2, 1940:

MRS. C. KOOL NEE MULDER DIED MONDAY
Long a Resident of Alton—Born in Holland

Mrs. C. Kool, nee Rena Mulder, passed on at the home of her son, James Kool, Monday Jan. 29th, shortly after nine o’clock in the morning. She was 75 years and 6 months of age and had been confined to bed for three weeks before her passing.

Rena Mulder was born in the Netherlands and came with her parents to the United States when she was 23 years of age. The family settled at Alton, where she lived for many years. On Dec. 2, 1880[i.e., 1890], she was married to Cornelius Kool and the couple lived on a farm south of Alton for some years. For ten years they resided at Parker and Volga, S.D., then returned to Alton where they purchased a small acreage. Three weeks ago, shortly before Mrs. Kool as taken ill, they moved to the former Kilburg house purchased by their son Jim.

She is survived by her husband and five children: Mrs. Evert Roelfson (Anna) of Alton; Mrs. Geo. Van Peursem (Margaret), Compton, California; John and Jim Kool of Alton, Tom Kool of Orange City. Andrew died two years ago and two daughters died in infancy. She is survived by sixteen grandchildren and one great granddaughter, by one sister, Mrs. Fred Duimstra of Orange City, and three brothers, Eibert, Ryer and Art Mulder, all of Alton.

Mrs. Kool was a devoted wife and mother and a loyal member of the local Reformed church where funeral services were held Wednesday at one o’clock in charge of the pastor, Rev. Van Engelenhoven. Pallbearers were Peter Leenhouts, Joe Rexwinkel, Herman Riedeman, Will Kooreman, Fred Douma and Chris Geeis.

Among those here from out-of-town for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Connor and small grandchildren, Frances and Joyce Kool of Sanborn; Mrs. Andrew Kool, Hawarden; Mr. and Mrs. Van Bree, Mrs. Ray Van Deest, all of Sioux Center; Mrs. Willard Benson, LeMars; Donald Van Peursem, a grandson living at Washta, Iowa; Mrs. Emma Stutzman, Boyden; Mrs. Ory Groves, Henry Bellings, Chandler, Minn.; Mrs. Alyda Thomassen, Joe Vander Kieft, Andrew, Frank and Miss Anna Huyzer, nephews and nieces living at Pella; also many friends from Orange City and neighboring towns.

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The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Kool, Rena, b. 1864, d. 1940, Mother, Nassau Twp Cem Alton IA.

Her death certificate (informant Anne Roelfson) has Reintje Kool; husband Cornelius Kool; born in the Netherlands July 10, 1865; parents John Mulder and Coba Hartman; resident of the U.S. 52 years and of Alton 22 years; died at 8:51 a.m. January 29, 1940 of bronchopneumonia, duration 2 weeks; due to thyrotoxic heart disease, duration 1 year; due to toxic adenoma of thyroid, duration 1 year.

Her FindaGrave.com page has her as Reintje Remke “Rena” Mulder Kool; born 18 Jan 1864 at Nunspeet, Gelderland, Netherlands; died 29 Jan 1940 at Alton; buried in Nassau Township Cemetery. Parents Jan Willemson Mulder (1833-1915) and Jacobje Hartman Mulder (1836-unknown). Spouse Cornelius Kool (1858-1945). Six siblings and six children are also listed. There is a photo of her headstone (“Mother Rena Kool 1864-1940”) and a photo of Rena and Cornelius in their later years.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Rijntje Mulder; father Jan Mulder, age 28, a day laborer; mother Jacobje Hartman; born in Ermelo, Gelderland, 10 July 1864.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1890/1891 has groom Cornelis Kool, age 30, residence Hospers, a farmer, born in the Netherlands, parents Johan Andreas Kool and Annigje Kershegen[?]; bride Reintje Mulder, age 26, resident of Alton, born in the Netherlands, parents Jan Mulder and Jacoba Hartman; married at Alton December 2, 1890.