- Vader Hendrik is NH en woont - 1877-92 Bennekom 259, 23-7-1892 VSA.
VAN ROEKEL, HENRY C. AND ALLIE (VANDER PLOEG)
Henry C. Van Roekel was born July 17, 1877 in Bennekom, Netherlands, to parents Cornelius and Gerritje (Veldhuizen) Van Roekel. They all immigrated to the U.S.A. on July 23, 1892. The first house they lived in stood where the education building of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center now stands. Henry's first job was working on the farm of William C. Hulstein located 3 1/2 miles northwest of Sioux Center.
On March 22,1904 he married Allie Vander Ploeg, daughter of Tjasse Willem and Taaktje (Valk) Vander Ploeg, who came to the U.S.A. from the Netherlands on May 12, 1881. Allie was born in Sioux Center on August 7, 1882. Her parents were in the funeral business, furniture sales, and some carpenter work. Allie helped her parents build caskets for the funeral business.
After their marriage they moved to a farm 3 1/2 miles southwest of Sioux Center, living there for a year or two. They then moved to a farm 4 1/2 miles southwest of Sioux Center where they lived until they retired in the town of Sioux Center in 1945.
Henry C. and Allie (Vander Ploeg) Van Roekel
Twelve children were born to this marriage. Neal, the first son, remembers the long hours the parents worked, never having electricity, indoor plumbing, running water or modern conveniences. He remembers that his parents never complained, and they appreciated their landowners treating them fairly and kindly. As the children grew up each had their own jobs to do. After school the younger ones went to the hog yard to pick up the cobs for burning in the stoves used for cooking and heating. Kerosene and gas lamps had to be filled and lamp chimneys washed.
The farm work was done with horse power, and the corn picked by hand and often in very cold weather. All had a hot breakfast before going out to the field, including lots of fresh, warm milk directly from the barn. At the end of the day the corn would be scooped off the wagon on a pile or into a crib. Later there was an elevator used. Two horses drove the "horse power" which elevated the corn into the cribs. Much excitement was had when the horses would go on the run away!
The older children attended Hope Christian School just a half mile south of the farm home. Students came from a radius of 3 ½ - 4 miles, either walking to school or with horse and buggy. Each family paid whatever they could. The school was started by the Christian Reformed Church, and the average number attending was about 25, with the Van Roekels having four. Then hard times came and in 1925 the school was forced to close. After that the children attended two different rural schools.
During the summer neighbors worked together for the threshing of oats and when it was finished everyone packed a dinner and spent the day together, usually on the school grounds. It was a real treat when someone provided ice cream for all. Another picnic time was the annual family reunions, which were an all-day affair. There was always visiting back and forth with neighbors; all would go and everyone had a good time.
Family laundry was a long, hard task. All water had to be carried with buckets from an outdoor pump, put into a boiler on the wood burning stove, and heated until boiling. Then it was dipped out again into the washing machine. The older children remember using a scrub board. The first washing machine used "dog power". Polly, the dog, had to be caught and tied up on Sunday night because otherwise on Monday morning she could not be found to do the walk for washing.
Most all the food came from the farm. Animals were butchered on the farm with help from the neighbors. The women canned all the meat, taking several days. After all the steaming of the meat was done, all the walls had to be washed. There was always a large garden and many potatoes were grown; a lot of vegetables and fruits were canned. Several times a week many large loaves of bread were baked. We always had our own eggs, milk and cream, and no one remembers ever going hungry.
On Sunday everyone went to church with a horse and buggy, or a bob sleigh in winter. In 1920 Henry bought his first car, an Overland, for $600. There was only one car until the oldest boys bought their own.
The year 1916 was a sad year. Following is a part of the article that appeared in the local newspaper, translated from the Dutch: "May, 1916: The household of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Van Roekel is passing through a way of grave testing. We have to announce the death of the l0-year-old daughter Fannie. The little girl became sick last week with spinal meningitis, complicated with brain fever. Tuesday morning she passed away. The 12-year-old son (Neal) having had a serious accident being kicked by a horse, is not out of danger, and on top of this he bas gotten the measles. Besides this the family was increased in the beginning of the week (John). May the Lord be near to them in these days of suffering."
Henry served as a deacon and elder in the First Reformed Church, he served as a county road boss, and also on the board of the Co-op. Produce. Allie sewed a lot of blankets and clothes, beside all the cleaning, baking and canning. She was a member of the Senior Ladies Missionary Society of the First Reformed Church, serving as its treasurer for many years.
Henry and Allie ware married for 61 years; Allie died Dec. 15, 1965 and Henry died August 22, 1969. They were the parents of the following children: Neal of Sioux Center, Fannie died in 1916, Garret of Sioux Center, Tena Sneller of Sioux Center, Carrie Franken of Sioux Center, Tony of Sioux Center who died in 1989, John William of Orange City, Henry Allen of Sioux Center, Fannie Sneller of Clarkfield, Minnesota, Cynthia Van Regenmorter of Sioux Center, Harriet Meendering of Sioux Center, and Ellen Lorene of Sioux Center.
by Harriet Meendering
Gerrit A. and Carrie Franken
FRANKEN, GERRIT A. AND CARRIE (VAN ROEKEL)
Gerrit A. Franken was born october 27, 1897 at Sioux Center, and Carrie Van Roekel was born May 16, 1912 at Sioux Center to Henry C. and Allie (VanDer Ploeg) Van Roekel.
Carrie attended eight years of schooling in a rural Hope Christian School just a half mile south of the farm place. She helped with the farm chores and during corn picking time she helped milk the cows while the boys harnessed the horses end got everything ready to go to the corn field. Then she would go with them to the field to pick corn by hand; oftentimes they would pick 100 bushels a day. She also worked out as a hired girl.
In 1943 she decided to go to California end worked in the Artesia and Bellflower area for seven years. She then came back to Sioux Center, and on November 28, 1951 married Gerrit Franken in the parsonage of the First Reformed Church with the Rev. Peter A. De Jong officiating.
Gerrit was a farmer end after moving to the town of Sioux Center he worked as a mechanic at a local implement repair shop, and later as caretaker of the city park. Carrie continues to do some janitorial duties a few hours a week.
Gerrit passed away on April 29, 1984 at Sioux Center at the age of 86 years.
by Ellen Van Roekel
Ellen Van Roekel
VAN ROEKEL, ELLEN
Ellen Lorene Van Roekel was born on November 30, 1928 on a farm four miles west and one-half mile south of Sioux Center, to Henry C. and Allie (Vander Ploeg) Van Roekel, being the youngest of twelve children.
Growing up on the farm was lots of fun. We made our own fun by making playhouses in the grove, making lots of mud pies, playing in the hay mow, swinging on sack swings, and playing with small farm animals. We had to help feed the chickens and pick up cobs and wood for the kitchen cook stove. After supper we would make a large pan full of popcorn and sit outside on the lawn to eat it, watching and waiting for the first star to appear.
I attended eight years of elementary school in two different country schools. There were between 20 and 30 students in the one room school houses, with all eight grades and one teacher, and everyone received a good education. We had to go to the Sioux County Court House to get our 8th grade diploma. After this I had four years of high school at the Sioux Center Public High School, graduating in 1946.
In 1945 I moved to the town of Sioux Center with my parents and worked in a grocery store and in a furniture store. Then in 1948 I went to California to work and lived there with my sister. But California was not for me, and after six months I came back home to Sioux Center, and started working as a secretary at the Te Paske Law Office where I worked for 37 years. Over the years I took a number of vacation trips, usually by car, bus or train tours to different scenic parts of the United States and Canada. At present I am doing some part-time work at an insurance agency, and still have time to do some of the things I enjoy doing.
by Ellen Van Roekel
Between 1st & 2nd E-W roads, row 3 west of east entry road.
Allie 1882-1965 Henry 1878-1969:
MRS. HENRY VAN ROEKEL (Allie)
Born: August 7, 1882, Sioux Center, Iowa
Died: December 15, 1965, Sioux Center, Iowa
Services at the Vander Ploeg's Chapel at 1:00 and 1:30 at First Reformed Church Burial in Sioux Center Community Cemetery December 18, 1965. Mrs. Henry Van Roekel, nee Allie Vander Ploeg, passed away Wednesday afternoon. She had reached the age of 83 years. 4 months and 8 days. Mrs. Van Roekel was united in marriage to Henry Van Roekel on March 22, 1904, at Sioux Center.
She is survived by her husband and the following children: Neal, Gerrit, Tena (Mrs. Henry Sneller), Carrie (Mrs. Gerrit Franken), all of Sioux Center, Tony of Ireton. John of Orange City, Henry of Maurice, Fannie (Mrs. Ed Sneller) of Hazel Run, Minn., Cynthia (Mrs. Henry Van Regenmorter) of Orange City, Harriet (Mrs. Albert Meendering) and Ellen of Sioux Center. She is also survived by 31 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. John Rozeboom of Steen, Minn., Nick Vander Ploeg of Sioux Center, Charles Vander Ploeg of Orange City, Mrs. Gerrit Huitink of Orange City, John of Yucipa, Calif., Mrs. Rev. Ray Lubbers of Orange City, Mrs. Dick Raak and Mrs. Tunis Den Herder of Sioux Center.
One daughter, Fannie, preceded her in death on May 8, 1916, and two brothers and one sister preceded her in death.
Vander Ploeg's Funeral Home, Sioux Center.
Funeral services for Henry Van Roekel, Sr., 91, were held August 26 at the First Reformed church in Sioux Center. Burial was in the Sioux Center Community Cemetery.
Mr. Van Roekel was born July 17, 1878, in The Netherlands. He came to the United States at the age of 13. He married Allie Vander Ploeg March 22, 1904, at Sioux Center. She died December 15, 1965.
Survivors include five sons, Tony of Ireton, Neal, Gerrit and Henry, all of Sioux Center, and John of Orange City; six daughters, Mrs. Henry Sneller, Mrs. Gerrit Franken, Mrs. Al Meendering, and Miss Ellen Van Roekel all of Sioux Center, Mrs. Henry Van Regenmorter of Orange City, Mrs. Ed Sneller of Hazel Run, Minnesota; Two sisters, Miss Ellen Van Roekel, Mrs. Hattie Kroon, both of Sioux Center; 31 grandchildren 31 great-grand children.
Hawarden Independent 1969-08-28.
Gerrit A. Franken, 86, Sioux Center, died Sunday at a Sioux Center hospital after a short illness. Services were at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Reformed Church. The Rev. John Hellinga officiated. Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Family visitations was from 7 to 8 p.m. at the.Vander Ploeg Chapel.
Mr. Franken was born Oct. 27, 1897, at Sioux Center. He married Nellie Brantsen in March 1918. She died Oct. 5, 1950. He then married Carrie Van Roekel in November 1951.
Survivors include his wife; a halfsister, Mrs. Lewis Wierda, Morris; three half-brothers, Henry and Joe Franken, both of Sioux Center, and Everette Franken, Redlands, Calif.; and a step-brother, E.J. Kosters, Sioux Center.
Sioux Center News 1984-05-09.
Funeral services for Henry Van Roekel, Sr., 91, were held August 26 at the First Reformed church in Sioux Center. Burial was in the Sioux Center Community Cemetery.
Mr. Van Roekel was born July 17, 1878, in The Netherlands. He came to the United States at the age of 13. He married Allie Vander Ploeg March 22, 1904, at Sioux Center. She died December 15, 1965.
Survivors include five sons, Tony of Ireton, Neal, Gerrit and Henry, all of Sioux Center, and John of Orange City; six daughters, Mrs. Henry Sneller, Mrs. Gerrit Franken, Mrs. Al Meendering, and Miss Ellen Van Roekel all of Sioux Center, Mrs. Henry Van Regenmorter of Orange City, Mrs. Ed Sneller of Hazel Run, Minnesota; Two sisters, Miss Ellen Van Roekel, Mrs. Hattie Kroon, both of Sioux Center; 31 grandchildren 31 great-grand children.
Hawarden Independent 1969-08-28.