Buurman, Diana (Mrs. John), 1849-1940

BUURMAN, LUCHTENBURG, LABBERTON, THOMAS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/2/2022 at 21:15:50

From the Sioux County Capital, May 16, 1940:

Mrs. Diana Buurman, 91, one of the oldest residents of Sioux county died Thursday, May 9 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Nick Aalberts, Alton. She came with her parents from the Netherlands in 1869 and has been a resident of this county and vicinity ever since. Her first husband was H. Luchtenburg and they had one son, Henry, who mourns her departure. She married John Buurman who died in 1915. She has been making her home with her children since that time. Two children of the second marriage, John Buurman and Mrs. Nick Aalberts, survive their mother; also 15 grandchildren and 9 greatgrandchildren. Funeral services were held in the First Reformed church at Orange City in charge of Rev. Mr. E. Van Engelenhoven.

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From the Alton Democrat, May 17, 1940:

Mrs. Buurman Came To Sioux County 71 Years Ago

Mrs. Diana Buurman, many years a citizen of Orange City and the last years making her home with her children, John Buurman and Mrs. Nic Aalbers, the latter of Alton, passed away at the Aalbers home Thursday afternoon, May 9, following a few days illness.

Mrs. Buurman was born in the Netherlands 91 years and four months ago, coming to America 71 years ago. A year after her arrival in this country she was united in marriage with Mr. Luchtenburg and two children were born to them, one dying in infancy. Henry Luchtenburg survives.

In 1882 Mr. Luchtenburg passed away and some years alter she married John Buurman, four children being born to this union. Two of these children died in early childhood and two survive, namely Mrs. Nic Aalbers of Alton and John Buurman of Orange City. Mr. Buurman, Sr., passed away in 1915.

Funeral services were held at the Aalbers home at Alton and the First Ref. church of Orange City Saturday afternoon with Rev. Engelenhoven of Alton officiating. Interment took place at the Orange City cemetery.

A resident of Sioux county for 71 years, during that time Mrs. Buurman only once left the county, and that was in the early days before the railroad came through, when she accompanied her husband by ox team to LeMars for needed supplies. Her children often invited her to drive with them to Sioux City, but she could not be induced to leave home. Of contented disposition, she was keenly interested in the home and family—also thoughtful for the comfort of the farm animals, warning her children and grandchildren not to overwork them in the heat of the day. She was greatly beloved by her thirteen grandchildren. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren.

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From De Volksvriend (Orange City), May 16, 1940 (translated from the Dutch):

On Thursday, 9 May, Mrs. Johannes Buurman, nee Dina Labberton, died at the home of her children, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Aalbers, in Alton. Mrs. Buurman had reached her 91st year on 1 January 1940, [so] the cause of her death may be attributed to her advanced age. In the last week before her death she was not as well as usual; this was caused by a disturbance of the kidneys. Yet she was not exactly ill, she was more tired and longing for rest. Her end came softly and calmly and she passed away very contentedly.

Mrs. Buurman was born at Gouda in the Netherlands, and came to America at age 19 with her brother Peter, where she acquired a homestead 2 miles west and 2 miles south of the city. About a year later she married Mr. Peter Luchtenburg and moved to the farm a mile east and a mile north of Orange City. Her first husband passed away 8 years later. To this union two children were born, one still alive, Henry of Orange City, one daughter, Mina, died at age 7.

Two years later, in 1880, she was married for the second time to Mr. Johannes Buurman. After a happy marriage of 35 years he died on 15 July 1915. To her second marriage three children were born: John, 1 mile north and 1 mile east of Orange City, and Johanna, Mrs. Nick Aalbers of Alton, a son died at a very young age. In addition she has a brother in the Netherlands. She was a member of the First Reformed church here.

The funeral services were held Monday, first at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Aalbers in Alton, and then in the First Reformed church here, under the direction of Rev. Evt. Van Engelenhoven. Her grandsons carried her to her final resting place in the Orange City cemetery.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Her death certificate (informant John Buurman) has Diana Buurman, widow of John Buurman; born Jan. 1, 1849 in the Netherlands; father Peter Labberton, mother’s name unknown; resident of the U.S. 70 years and of the Alton community 25 years; died at 11:45 a.m. May 9, 1940; cause, congestive heart failure, duration 5 days, due to arteriosclerosis, duration 25 years; other conditions, chronic nephritis, duration 5 years.

Her FindaGrave.com page has Diana Labberton Buurman. Born 1 Jan 1849 in Gouda, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, died 9 May 1940 in Alton, buried in West Lawn Cemetery, Orange City. Spouses Pieter Luchtenburg (1831-1879) and Johannes Buurman (1842-1915). Children Henry L. Luchtenburg (1874-1945), John Buurman (1881-1976), and Johanna Buurman Aalbers (1888-1973).

The 1925 Iowa state census, in which she is living with her son-in-law Nicholas Aalbers and family, gives her parents’ names as Henry[?] Labberton and Johanna Thomas.