VAN PEURSEM, HENRY AND CYNTHIA (BOEYINK)
Cynthia Boeyink was born at Gelderland, Netherlands on July 3, 1869 at the age two she accompanied her parents, Henry and Johanna (Kastein) Boeyink to Alto, Wisc. where they made their home for 12 years. Then they moved to Sioux Center where she made her home for 11 years, the later four of that time having been spent housekeeping at the Rev. Boer home in Maurice. Rev. Boer was pastor of the Maurice First Ref. Church at that time.
Before coming to Maurice she had been a Sunday School teacher in Sioux Center and she continued her service when she came to Maurice. She was an active member of the Ladies Aid for 30 years and will be remembered for her willingness to assist the unfortunate, as exemplified by her knitting army sweaters for the motherless soldier boys during the World War.
Cynthia Boeyink married Henry Van Peursem February 25, 1892 at the home of his parents Mr. and Mrs. George Van Peursem. Rev. P. Wayenburg performed the ceremony.
Cynthia (Boeyink) and Henry Van Peursem family: Back row: Minnie 1894-1981; George
1895-1983; Anna 1892-1955 Middle row: John 1899-1972; Alfred 1903-1962; Henrietta
1898-1977 Front row: Henry 1870-1951; Cynthia (Boeyink) 1869-1935 Children in front:
Ralph 1907-1973; Delbert 1911-1982
Henry Van Peursem was the son of George and Mina (Kars) Van Peursem. He was born May 1, 1870, 5 miles west of Pella in a log house. He and his family came to Sioux County in 1872. They boarded a train in Pella and arrived in Le Mars. This is where his father assembled a wagon, loaded all their belongings and started their journey to a farm place 3½ miles east of Maurice.
The first years of their marriage they lived on a farm 3 miles north of Maurice then later they purchased the farm 1 mile west and 1 mile south of Maurice. After many years of farming they built a house in town at 411 Main St. and retired at this home. To this union eight children were born.
Johanna Wessalina (Anna) Dec. 10, 1892 - Dec. 20, 1955; Wilhilmina Marie (Minnie) Jan. 29, 1894 - Aug. 29, 1981; George Andrew April 1, 1895 - Dec. 7, 1983; Henrietta Gertrude March 10, 1898 - Nov. 27, 1977; Henry John (John) July 13, 1899 - April 29, 1972; Alfred Dick Sept. 26, 1903 - Aug. 15, 1962; Ralph Lawrence Nov. 27, 1907 - April 30, 1973; Delbert Luverne July 30, 1911- May 24, 1982.
Cynthia died Saturday Sept. 14, 1935 from a heart attack she had on the previous Monday. Funeral services were held at the First Ref. Church at Maurice with Rev. R. Duiker and Rev. John Straks officiating. She was laid to rest at the Sherman Township cemetery. Henry continued to live for a few years at 411 Main but later moved to an upstairs apartment at the Peter Van Peursem home. Later when Peter Van Peursem sold his home to Bill Korver, Henry continued living upstairs. About 1949 he moved into an apartment by John Vander Weide's in the former hotel building.He lived here until his death Aug. 14, 1951.
by Mrs. Peter De Koter
The second picture was taken in 1947 Sheldon Park and shows Henry Van Peursem and his 8 children. Back row: Delbert, John, Alfred, Ralph. Front row Henrietta, Johanna, Henry, Wilhelmina ande George.
The third photo is a wedding picture of Henry and Cynthia.
The fourth photo shows 4 generations, left Johanna Kastein, right daughter Cynthia Boeijink, middle daughter Johanna van Peursem holding daughter Lois Meenk.
Fifth an sixth are photos of the gravestones of Cynthia and Henry.
"Daddy pushed me off," the little girl told Ferdinand Schiebout, a neighbor who was first on the scene after the accident. Leann was bruised but able to attend her father's funeral Saturday at the Van Peursem farm home. Present also and unharmed were three of his grandsons who were riding in a trailer behind the tractor. Two of the boys are sons of Mr. and Mrs. John De Jong, the third a son of Peter De Koter, all of Maurice.
Schiebout reconstructed the accident as follows:the first of four diesel engines hit the front end of the tractor which was protruding about two feet past one rail. There were indications that Van Peursem was trying to back away from the track after he saw the train approaching. Mr. Van Peursem and Leann had driven to the Maurice elevator with a load of corn. Mrs. Van Peursem came to town in the car with her grandsons who wanted to ride back to the farm in the empty wagon. Heading back to the farm a mile west and a quarter south of Maurice, the crash occurred on the Great Northern tracks.
The front section was thrown about 20 feet north and the rear carrying Mr. Van Perusem landed over in front of the engine. The Maurice man's body was found 45 feet north of the intersection. The farm wagon with the three boys remained on the road.
Funeral services for Alfred Dick Van Peursem were held at 1 pm Saturday at the
farm home and at 1:30 pm at the Maurice Reformed Church. Rev. J. Bergen officiated.
Burial was in the Maurice Cemetery under the direction of the Sioux Center
Cooperative Funeral Service.
Born September 26, 1903 at Maurice, Mr. Van Peursem was a lifelong resident of that community. His marriage to Geraldine Peelen took place August 27, 1930 at Canton, South Dakota.
Surviving are the widow; two sons, Marion of Maurice and Dean of Spencer; three daughters, Mrs. John De Jong and Mrs. Peter De Koter, both of Maurice, and Leann at home; seven grandchildren; four brothers, George of Los Angeles, John of Maurice, Ralph of Rochester, New York, and Delbert in Missouri and two sisters, Mrs. John Hoekstra of Slayton, Minnesota, and Mrs. De Jager of Maurice.
He was preceded in death by a son, Lloyd Dean.
Mrs. Henry Van Peursem at the age of 66 yrs. 2 mo and 11 days succumbed at her home Sat. Sept 14 as a result of a heart attack Monday when she became seriously ill. The children were called and all arrived in time for the funeral which took place Tues. 1 o'clock at the house and 2 o'clock at the First Ref. Church. Rev. Straks and Rev. Duiker officiating. After the services, where 2 of her favorite hymns were sung, the remains were buried in the Maurice cemetery. Pall bearers included Ben Den Ouden, Abe Levering, J.M. Mieras, Ralph Mieras, Geo. De Groot and Albert Popma, all members of the Am. Ref. Church.
Born Cynthia Boeyink at Gelderland in the Netherlands, on July 2, 1869, she at the age of two accompanied her parents to Alto, Wis. where they lived 12 years. Their next move was to Sioux Center where she made her home 11 years. During part of this time she taught Sunday school there and continued doing so when she came to Maurice where she was employed for 4 years at the home of Rev. Boer, then pastor of the First Ref. Church.
On Feb. 25, 1892 she wedded Henry Van Peursem at the home of the grooms parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Van Peursem to which union 3 daughters and 5 sons where born. They made their home in Maurice where she had been a resident the past 43 years. Mrs Van Peursem was a strong and faithful worker of the Ladies Aid for 30 years, and her attendance at services of the Am. Ref. church, of which she was a member was marked. On the Sunday preceding her sudden illness she had attended both morning and evening services. She was among the kind hearted souls who, during the world war, knitted army sweaters for the soldier boys who were motherless and in other ways was over ready to assist the unfortunate. At large social gatherings she was often called upon to make the delicious coffee she could so ably prepare.
Her many friends join the surviving relatives, including the widower, 3 daughters: Anne, Mrs. Arthur Meenk of Everett, Wash., Minnie, Mrs. John G. Hoekstra of Maurice, and Henrietta, Mrs. Albert De Jager of Maurice: and 5 sons George of Orange City, John of Merrill, Alfred of Alton, Ralph of Sheldon and Delbert of Rock Island, Ill, 2 sisters, Mrs. G. Kleene of Hull and Mrs. H.K. Eggink, Sioux Center and 3 brothers: Gerrit, John and Ralph Boeyink all of Sioux Center and 16 grand children in mourning her departure.
Two brothers and three grandchildren preceded her in death.
Sioux Center News 1935-09-19.
Henry Van Peursem, 81 of Maurice died in his sleep at about 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. He had not been feeling well Sunday and was asked by his son John to go home with him but he said he would be all right. He had told Mrs. Art De Koter who also has an apartment in the Maurice hotel that if sometimes she didn't hear his radio at 8 a.m. she should investigate. Tuesday morning she did not hear his radio so she knocked at his door. Receiving no answer she summoned John Vander Weide who owns the place. He investigated and found Mr. Van Peursem lying in bed with hands folded. He had been dead just a short while.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 17 at 1 p.m. in the John H. Van Peursem home at Maurice and at 1:30 in the First Reformed Church at Maurice. The Sioux Center Co-op burial Ass'n is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include eight children, Mrs. Anna Meenk of Lynden, Wash., who is here, Minnie, Mrs. John Hoekstra of Slayton, Minn.; George of Los Angeles, Calif.; John H. and Henrietta. Mrs. Al De Jager and Alfred all of Maurice, Ralph of Rochester, N.Y. and Delbert of St. Louis, MO. Also the following brothers and sister: Mrs. Will De Jong of Hunhtington Park, Calif., Peter of Altadena, John of Zeeland, Mich.; Martin of Orange City and Gerrit of North Branch, N.J.
Sioux County Capital - 16 August 1951