DeZeeuw, Sander “Sam,” 1880-1940

DEZEEUW, DEBOER, GREVENHOF, VANGREVENHOF

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/7/2022 at 16:42:23

From the Sioux Center News, July 4, 1940:

Sam De Zeeuw Passes On Following Lingering Illness

Sam De Zeeuw passed away at his home Monday night July 1st after a lingering illness of over two years suffering from heart trouble and dropsy. The last months he also suffered from cancer which hastened his death.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 5th at 1:30 in the home and at 2:00 in the First Reformed Church at Rock Valley. Iowa.

Mr. De Zeeuw has lived in the vicinity of Sioux Center and Orange City all his life until thirteen years ago when he located on a farm near Rock Valley. He was nearing the age of 60 years.

Surviving are Mrs. DeZeeuw and six children: Mrs. Harriet Vugteveen, Gilbert, Mrs. Alice Steginga, Cynthia, Stanley, Wilma. The first three are married, the latter three are still at home. There are also five grand-children. One brother, Garrit De Zeeuw, and one sister, Mrs. Ike De Jong, both of Orange City, and Mrs. Martin De Boer of Holland, Minn. also survive. Mrs. Sam De Zeeuw's mother, Mrs. S. De Boer of Rock Valley, is still living.

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From the Alton Democrat, July 12, 1940, Rock Valley news:

Sam De Zeeuw, who had been suffering with a heart ailment the past months, passed away at the farm home southeast of Rock Valley on Monday, July 1. He was born Oct. 5, 1880, in Sioux county where practically all of his life was spent and had resided in the Rock Valley vicinity for several years where he had a large acquaintance.

Mr. De Zeeuw was united in marriage with Miss Wilhelmina De Boer at Holland, Minn., on Jan. 3, 1909, who with six children survive. The children are Harriet, Mrs. Lane Vugteveen; Alice, Mrs. Otto Stegenga; Gilbert, Stanley, Cynthia and Wilma. One child died in infancy. He also leaves one brother, George, of Sioux Center and two sisters, Mrs. Ike De Jong, Orange City and Mrs. Martin De Boer of Holland, Minn., and a number of grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Friday, July 5, at 1:30 at the home and 2:00 o’clock at the First Ref. church with Rev. H. J. Aberson in charge.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Rock Valley newspaper is not available online for this time period.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has De Zeeuw, Sander, b. 1880, d. 1940, Father, Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley IA. His FindaGrave.com page has Sander “Sam” De Zeeuw, born 5 Oct 1880 in Rock Valley, died 1 Jul 1940 in Rock Valley; parents Gysbert De Zeeuw (1832-1901) and Henderika Van Grevenhof De Zeeuw (1845-1914); four siblings listed; spouse Wilhelmina De Boer De Zeeuw (1889-1975). There is a photo of his headstone.

His death certificate (informant Gilbert De Zeeuw) has Sander De Zeeuw, resident of rural Rock Valley where he had lived 14 years, a farmer; husband of Wilhelmina De Boer; born October 5, 1880 in Sioux Center; parents Gysbert De Zeeuw and Henrietta Grevenhof, both born in the Netherlands; died at 11:30 p.m. July 1, 1940, having been under a doctor’s care since March 15, 1939; cause, carcinoma of the liver, duration 3 months; due to carcomu?? of hepa??flexor[?] of [illegible]. An annotation says “(over)” but there is no reverse side presented.

The Iowa Births and Christenings Index on Ancestry.com gives his name as Sander De Zeeuw and birthplace as West Branch Township, Sioux County. Subsequent federal and state census records refer to him sometimes as Sander, sometimes as Sam. His World War I draft registration card (Sept. 1918) has him as Sander De Zeeuw, farming on RFD 2, Maurice; short, medium build, blue eyes, light brown hair.