DeBoer, John, 1916-1940

DEBOER, VANDERVEGTE, VANDERWERF

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/30/2022 at 16:59:06

From the Sioux Center News, October 10, 1940

Young Farmer, Kicked By Horse, Dies

John De Boer, 24 year old farmer living northwest of Rock Valley, died in the Hull hospital Sunday afternoon as the result of an accident on his farm. He had been working on his farm Saturday morning with a team of horses when a young horse kicked him in the abdomen. With great difficulty and pain he crawled to the house and was rushed to the hospital.

John De Boer is survived by his wife and a 7 month old daughter Clara-Jane, by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Klaas De Boer, a brother Frank and two sisters, Mrs. John Meerbeek of Rock Valley, and Mrs. Albert Van Beek of Sioux Center. Two of his brothers passed away in recent years, Gilbert in a car accident on May 19, 1933 and Gerrit following a ruptured appendix on Oct. 19, 1937.

The funeral was held on Wednesday from the First Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. J. Aberson officiating.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, October 11, 1940:

LOSES LIFE WHEN KICKED BY A HORSE
John De Boer Hurt Fatally On the Farm

John De Boer, young farmer residing 8 miles northwest of Rock Valley, was fatally injured when kicked by a mare while he was trying to unhitch the animal which had kicked over the wagon tongue and broken it. The accident happened last Saturday morning at about 10:30 o’clock.

He had driven the team to the cornfield to pick a load for feed and was alone when the tragic happening took place. The young man lay unconscious for some 20 minutes after he fell, the team running off. Although kicked in the stomach he managed to make his way an eighth of a mile to the farm yard where his wife saw him and came to his aid. By two p.m. John was in the hospital at Hull where he was rushed by Dr. Lock but his life could not be saved and he passed away Sunday afternoon at 1:15.

Funeral services were held this Wednesday afternoon at 1:15 at the home northwest of town and at 2:00 o’clock at the First Reformed church, Rock Valley. Interment was at the Inwood cemetery.

Only one, Frank, the youngest of the four De Boer brothers, survives. Gilbert was killed in an auto accident about seven years ago while he was taking lunch to the field. Gerrit died three years ago of stomach ulcers. One sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Van Beek, wife of Albertus Van Beek of Sioux Center, also survives.

John is survived by his wife, the former Cornelia Vander Vegte, and by their baby daughter, Geraldine, only 7 months of age; by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Klaas De Boer; his brother, Frank, and sister, Mrs. Van Beek; and by his wife’s two sisters and brother—Mrs. Ed Bartels of Boyden; Bertha and Peter Vander Vegte, both of Rock Valley.

He was born in March, 1916, and was a progressive, hard-working young farmer who will be sadly missed by his family and a host of friends in this community. The sympathy of all goes out to them in their hour of bereavement.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant Klaas de Boer) adds his birth date, March 12, 1916, rural near Rock Valley; parents Klaas De Boer and Rukje Vander Werf, both born in Holland; residence, 3 miles west and 2 miles north of Rock Valley; died at 1:15 p.m. October 6, 1940; cause, paralytic ileus, duration 1-1/2 days, due to kick by horse over epigastrum.

His FindaGrave.com page shows him buried in Richland Cemetery, Inwood; parents Klaas De Boer (1878-1951) and Agnes Vander Werf De Boer (1877-1959); 4 named siblings and unidentified infants listed; photo of his headstone. His wife is not mentioned. Brief research on Ancestry.com indicates that she later married John Lolkus, lived for a time in Artesia, California, and died 1 July 2008 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

His marriage record has groom John K. De Boer, age 24 next birthday, residence Rock Valley, occupation farmer, born at Inwood, parents Klaas De Boer and Rukje Van de Werf; bride Cornelia Vande Vegte, residence Rock Valley, age 20 next birthday, born at Rock Valley, parents Peter Vande Vegte and Martha Van Veldhuizen; married at Rock Valley March 31, 1939.

The 1940 census shows John K. (24), Cornelia (20), and daughter Clara Jane (1/12) renting a farm in Sioux Township.