Hospers, Anna Gertrude (Mrs. Isaac H.), 1878-1940

HOSPERS, HUIZENGA, BOONSTRA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/9/2022 at 20:24:19

From the Sioux County Capital, April 25, 1940:

Former Resident Dies Tuesday

Mrs. I. H. Hospers, 61, of Olin, Iowa died Tuesday following a car mishap. Her daughter Muriel ran the family car over her mother as she backed the car away from the curb in Cedar Rapids to let another car pull away from the curb. At the time of the accident Monday, it was thought that Mrs. Hospers’ only injuries were a broken wrist and bruises. Coroner B. L. Knight of Cedar Rapids said that her death was caused by a weak heart.

The Hospers were former residents of Orange City, Mr. Hospers publishing the Orange City Herald at one time. He was a son of Henry Hospers, at one time state senator and guiding genius of the pioneer Orange City colony.

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From the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gazette, April 23, 1940:

Woman Run Over By Auto Dies; Heart Condition Blamed

The third 1940 traffic fatality was recorded in Cedar Rapids at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday when Mrs. I. H. Hospers, 61, of Olin, died in a local hospital. She was injured Monday noon when a car driven by her daughter backed over her body.

Death of Mrs. Hospers was ascribed by Dr. B. L. Knight, coroner, to a bad heart condition aggravated by her injuries. In addition to the skinned right cheek and broken left wrist discovered after the accident, Mrs. Hospers suffered crushed upper right ribs and a crushed chest, Dr. Knight reported.

The accident happened near Third avenue and Second street SE at 12:05 p.m. Monday. Mrs. Hospers had alighted from the car and had started around the rear of the machine to cross the avenue when her daughter, Muriel, backed the auto to allow another car to get out of a parking space. The Hospers car struck Mrs. Hospers and knocked her to the pavement.

Mrs. Hospers was the wife of I. H. Hospers, editor and publisher of the Olin Recorder, on which Mrs. Hospers served as reporter and linotype operator. She was born Anna Gertrude Huiszenga in Holland, Neb., Oct. 4, 1878. Both her parents came to America from The Netherlands. Mr. and Mrs. Hospers went to Olin about a decade ago.

Survivors, in addition to the husband, are a son, Roger H. Hospers, of Iowa City; the daughter, Muriel, at home; and two sisters, Mrs. J. G. DeBey of Glendale, Calif., and Mrs. A. J. Muste, New York City. Mrs. Hospers was a member of the Dutch Reformed church and of the O.E.S. She had been active in P.T.A. work.

Private funeral services were scheduled, the time depending on the arrival of Roger Hospers. The body is at the Moen funeral home. Cremation is planned.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Similar obituaries were published in several Jones County newspapers (the Olin Recorder is not available online for this time period). That in the Anamosa Eureka, April 25, 1940, adds that she worked with her husband in publishing the Olin Recorder until two months ago, when it was sold.

Her death certificate (informant I. H. Hospers) has Anna Gertrude Hospers, wife of Isaac Hospers; born Oct. 4, 1878 in Holland, Nebraska; parents John Huiszenga and Anna Boonstra, both born in Holland; usual occupation: housewife, news reporter, linotype operator; resident of Olin, Jones County, Iowa; died in St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, where she had been for one day, at 3 a.m. April 23, 1940; cause: shock, crushed chest, fracture left radius, duration 15 hours; due to, run over by auto; other conditions, chronic myocarditis, duration 22 years; cremated at Moen Crematorium, Cedar Rapids.

The Ottawa County, Michigan marriage register for 1911 has groom Isaac Hospers, age 33, residence Orange City, Ill., born in Illinois, occupation newspaperman, parents Henry Hospers and Hendrina Overkamp; bride Anna Gertrude Huizenga, age 32, resident of Rock Valley, Sioux County, born in Nebraska, parents Rev. J. F. Huizenga and Anna Boonstra; married August 8, 1911 in Holland, Mich., by H. Hospers, clergyman.

In the 1900 and 1910 U.S. censuses (as Gertrude Huizenga) she was living in Rock Valley with her parents and siblings, working as a school teacher (high school in 1910). In 1920 she (as Anna), I. H. Hospers, and children Roger H. (6) and Eve M. (4) are living in Armstrong, Emmet County, Iowa, where I. H. is a newspaper editor. In 1930 (as Gertrude) she, Isaac Hospers, and children Roger (16) and Muriel (14) are living in Kiron, Crawford County, Iowa, where Isaac is a newspaper publisher. In 1940 Isaac H., Gertrude H. and Muriel E. Hospers are living in Olin, Jones County, Iowa, where they had also lived in 1935; Isaac is a newspaper printer.