BRANTSEN, FRED AND ELLA
The Brantsen Family is not very large in numbers, nor do I have much to relate on generations back. Fred, my father-in-law, was born to Jan and Lubbertje Juffer-Brantsen on March 16, 1891, on a farm northeast of Sioux Center. The Brantsen family later moved to Perkins and then west of Sioux Center. Fred had a brother, William; four sisters, Anna, Mrs. Ben Mulder; Gert, Mrs. Gerrit Kosters; Nellie, Mrs. Gerrit A. Franken, and Henrietta, Mrs. Jake Duistermars.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brantsen (Ella Franken)
In 1913 Fred married Elbertji (Elia) Franken, daughter of Arie and Johanna Mouw-Franken, who lived east of Sioux Center. She was born March 13, 1894, and had one sister, Mrs. Horton Jacobsma, and one brother, Gerrit A. Franken. Mr. Franken was widowed when the children were still young. Mr. Franken then married Mrs. Anna Zommermand-Kosters, who had one son, E.J. Kosters. Later four more children joined the family: Lucille, Mrs. Lewis Wierda, Henry A., married Delia Wierda, Everette A., who married Dolly Van Dolfsen, and Joe, who married Ruth Miller. Fred and Elia started housekeeping west of Sioux Center and have two children. Johanna or "Jo," married Garret Van Roekel, son of Henry and Allie Vander Ploeg-Van Roekel, and farmed nearby. They had three children: Marla, Mrs. Gene Moss who has three children and four grandchildren, Glenda, Mrs. Marv Fedders who has three children, and Lyle, who married Diane Huisman and has three children.
Garret and Jo moved to Sioux Center in the 1960s, to 2nd Ave. N.E. Garret worked for Rens Construction and Jo worked as a cook at Mary's Lunch. The family were members of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Jo passed away of a malignancy, February 1979, at the age of 65 years. Garret still lives in his home on 2nd Ave. N.E.
Fred Brantsen passed away in February 1948, after suffering from a heart attack, at the age of 56 years.
Ella moved to 2nd Street S.E., Sioux Center, and passed away of a malignancy in August 1968 at the age of 74 years.
John, Son of Fred and Elia, married Cynthia Den Hartog, daughter of Corneluis (Cornie) and Magdalene De Zeeuw-Den Hartog, of Orange City in 1941. They farmed for a few years and then John entered the Navy, serving on the U.S.S. Hornet. After service he took training for a meat cutter.
In 1949, Jeris was born to John and Cynthia. Jeris grew up with a yen for mechanics. He married Karen, daughter of Clarence and Everly Reinders-Visser of Orange City. Joris is now a salesman at Mouw Motor in Sioux Center and Karen has her own beauty salon in their home. They have two children, Kristi Lynn and Jennifer Renae, who both attend the Sioux Center school.
In 1952 John Brantsen and John Calkhoven purchased the Vreeman Market and Lockers, which they later sold in 1965. Brantsen went to work for Smit & Bon of Beyden, and became their route salesman until ill health forced him to quit. He passed away of a malignancy on August 29, 1973 at 53 years of age.
In 1954 a second son, Loren Robert, was born to John and Cynthia. Loren was also brought up in Sioux Center and attended the Sioux Center school there. Loren married Mary Swets, daughter of John and Marjorie Van Gelder-Swets, of Orange City. Loren and Mary live on an acreage southeast of Sioux Center and are both employed in Sioux Center. They have two children, John Micheal and Susanne Marie. They both attend the Sioux Center school.
Cynthia Brantsen still lives on 2nd street S.E. She has been employed at the Sioux Center Community School as a cook at the Kinsey building for 28 years. She retired May of 1987. Her hobbies are travelling and crafts.
by Cynthia Brantsen