Dykstra, Eltje (Eeltje), 1887-1943

DYKSTRA, VANDERMAATEN, VANDERMATEN, ELSINGA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/10/2022 at 18:21:58

From the Boyden Reporter, April 22, 1943:

Eltje Dykstra died at his home in Boyden, Iowa, on April 20, 1943 at three o’clock in the afternoon after a lingering illness. He was 56 years and 20 days old at the time of his death.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 22, at one o’clock at the home, and at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon at the First Reformed Church in Boyden. Rev. J. Brink had charge of the services. Pallbearers were: Ring Smit, Ed Diekevers, John Vander Haar, Arie Bomgaars, Henry Brinkman and Gerrit Kooiman. Interment was made in the Boyden cemetery.

Eltje Dykstra was born to Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Dykstra in Sexbierum, Holland, on April 1, 1887, and came to this country when he was one year old and located near Orange City. After his marriage to Mary Vander Maaten, they moved to a farm near Newkirk. They farmed until he moved to Boyden becoming foreman of the county crew of Kamminga, and then went into the trucking business until his recent death.

Born to this couple were Cornelius of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Lambert Bouma, Boyden; Mrs. Vernon Vander Schoor, Garner; Pvt. Frank, in Guinea; Lydia, 20; and Maryanna, 10 years old.

Brothers and sisters who survive him are: Pete Dykstra, Mrs. John B. Burrman and John Dykstra, of Orange City, and Mrs. Herman Vander Maaten of Boyden. His grand-children are Mary Carol and Owen Lyle Bouma, and Lina Beth and LeRoy Verne Vander Schoor.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Similar obituaries were published in the Alton Democrat (April 30, Boyden news), the Sioux County Capital (April 29), and the Sioux Center News (April 29, Boyden news).

No death certificate was readily located online.

His FindaGrave.com page adds his parents, Cornelus E. Dykstra (1858-1935) and Mathilda Elsinga Dykstra (1954-1940); spouse Mary Vander Maten Dykstra (1892-1973, married 1911); three siblings listed; two children listed: Wilma Dykstra Bouma (1915-1999) and Matilda Dykstra Vander Schoor (1917-2009). There is a photo of the joint headstone of him and his wife.

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Eeltje Dijkstra, born 1 April 1887 in Friesland, parents Kornelis Dijstra and Tetje Elsinga.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1911/1912 has groom Eltje Dykstra, age 25, resident of Boyden, a farmer, born in the Netherlands, parents Cornelius Dykstra and Tetje Elsinga; bride Mary Vander Maten, age 20, resident of Boyden, born in the Netherlands, parents Frank Vander Maten and Willempje Veldefeisch; married in Boyden December 12, 1911.

Census records show him to be a farmer in Lynn Township, Sioux County (1920), a truck driver for a freight company (1930), and a trucker with a grain and stock truck (1940).

His World War I draft registration card shows him as Eeltje Dykstra, age 30, address Sheldon RFD #3, born April 1, 1887, naturalized, born in Sexbierum, Holland, a farmer, married with 3 children, medium height and build, blue eyes, light hair.

His World War II draft registration card (April 1942) has him as Eltje C. Dykstra, residence Boyden, telephone Boyden 3931, age 55, born April 1, 1887 in Friesland, self-employed, height 5’9”, weight 180, blue eyes, grey hair, ruddy complexion, scar on left thumb.