BOSCH, GERALD FAMILY
Gerald Bosch was born November 19, 1922 on a farm at Sanborn, Ia. In 1938 he moved to Sioux Center with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bosch. He completed his senior year of High School in Sioux Center and graduated with the class of 1939. He then began clerking at Peter's Grocery Store and did so until 1943 when he was inducted into the Army. He served with the 8th Armored Tank Division for three years, from 1943-1946, during World War II, serving half of that time in the European Theatre of War, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1946, when he returned home, he began working at Boeyink's Store and also drove school bus. However he always had a dream of owning and operating his own business, but wasn't sure if he should take the risk. He was interested in Men's and Boy's clothing.
On August 12,1947, Gerald married Artella Mouw in the First Reformed Church in Orange City. She was teaching 2nd grade in the Orange City Public School at that time, receiving a salary of $1,950 a year. Artella graduated from the Orange City Christian School, Northwestern Classical Academy and Northwestern Junior College. After their marriage, they lived in Sioux Center, where she was Kindergarten teacher for three years, 1947-1950. Gerald bought their first home at public auction in 1948, located at 606 3rd Ave. N. E., without his seeing it, however she thought he had made a good choice. They spent eleven years in this home and both of their daughters were born while living there. Marvin Wierda, the owner of this home had just completed it the previous year and it sold for $8,600 at the auction.
The Gerald Bosch family - 1961.
In January 1950, while teaching, Artella became one of the early victims of the polio epidemic and was hospitalized in the polio isolation ward in the St. Joseph Hospital in Sioux City. For the next three years, she spent much time in and out of various hospitals. She was never able to return to her teaching duties in the Kindergarten classroom.
In August 1960, Gerald decided to begin a Men and Boys clothing store, known as Bosch's Clothing. The store started on a small scale at first, but continued to grow and prosper. He owned and operated Bosch's for twenty-five years, and then because of serious health problems was compelled to sell his business. Gerald became ill with cancer (multiple myeloma) in 1975, and doctored at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He died suddenly at Blue Earth, Minn., en route to the hospital in Rochester, on Nov. 5, 1976 at 53 years of age.
Gerald was very active in church and community affairs and interested in the growth and progress of Sioux Center. His community involvement included, Pres., Chamber of Commerce, Retail Trade Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Founding Board of The New Homestead, Low Rent Housing Commission, Land Development Commission, Treas. of the Sioux Center Community School Board for 15 years, American Legion and singingwith the Legion quartet for 30 years, member of the executive Board of Northwestern College, and received an outstanding performance award from the National Foundation for The March of Dimes. He was actively involved in the First Reformed Church, where he served as an Elder and directed the Adult Choir for 24 years. The church and serving his Lord ware very important to him and this was evident in his life.
They have two daughters, Debra, who graduated from Augustana College with a B.S. degree in Nursing. She married Lauren Kaemingk, who graduated from IA State College with a degree in Animal Science. He is part owner in FGL Commodities, which is a Brokerage firm in Sioux Center. They live here in town with their two daughters, Jessica and Jaclyn. Their first born son, Jason, died at five weeks of age.
Their second daughter, Denise, received an A.A. degree in business from Northwestern College. She is a dental assistant to Dr. Estes in Sioux Center. She is married to John E. Vander Stelt. He graduated from Northwestern College with a B.A. in Art and is a graphic artist at K-Products in Orange City. They live in Maurice with their daughter Becky.
In 1959 Gerald and Artella built their family home at 303 2nd Ave. S.E., where the children grew up. She sold their home a few years after Gerald's death and is now living in a condo in the south part of Sioux Center.
by Mrs. Gerald Bosch
Gerald Bosch, long-time S-C businessman, passes away
Mr. Gerald Bosch, a prominent Sioux Center businessman for many years, passed away Friday, Nov. 5, at Blue Earth, minnesota.
Mr. Bosch was on his way to the Mayo clinic in Rochester for medical treatment when he succumbed to the long illness that had plagued him.
Born Nov. 19, 1922 in Sanborn, Gerald married Artella (Mouw). August 12, 1947 in Orange City. They have two daughters, Debra (Mis. Lauren Kaemingk of Sioux Center), and Denise (Mrs. Veryl De Gooyer of Maurice).
Brothers and sisters include Carolyn Dummell of Sioux Center; Fannie Haagsma, Primghar; Arthur Bosch, Sanborn; John Bosch, Sanborn; and Esther Kempers, Hull.
Funeral services were held Monday, at 10:30 a.m.. al the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center, the Reverend Wesley Kiel, the Reverend Gerrit Rezelman and Reverend Henry A. Mouw officiating.
Gerald Bosch was most involved in community and church related programs. He was on the Executive Committee of Northwestern College, the Sioux Center School Board as Treasurer, a former Elder of the Sioux Center First Reformed Church, and that church's Choir Director for 24 years.
Mr. Bosch was also on the Low Rent Housing committee as well as the Planning and Zoning Committee. He was, too, a member of the Legion Quartet.
Sioux Center News 1976-11-10.
Artella Bosch, 81, of Sioux Center died Wednesday, September 28, at the Sioux Center Community Nursing Facility.
A funeral service was Friday at 10 a.m. at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with the Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Interment was in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.
Mrs. Bosch was born October 26, 1923, in Orange City, the daughter of John H. and Francena (Dielman) Mouw.
She graduated from Northwestern Academy in Orange City and taught school in the elementary grades, the last being kindergarten at the local public school in the 1950s.
She married Gerald Bosch after he returned from World War II in the First Reformed Church in Orange City on August 12, 1947. They enjoyed 29 wonderful years of marriage and owned and operated Bosch's Clothing Store for 25 years in Sioux Center. He was taken home on November 5, 1976.
She was an active member in First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, where she taught Sunday school, catechism and was involved in women's ministries. She had the gift of encouragement and was known to write many notes. She was a steadfast prayer warrior for the family.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Deb Kaemingk of Sioux Center; daughter and son-inlaw, Denise and John E. Vander Stelt of Maurice; three granddaughters; two grandsons; a sister, Marlys Pennings, and a brother and sisterin-law, Cliff and Shirley Mouw, all of Orange City; a special foster daughter, Linda Potter of Chicago; sisters-in-law, Emily Mouw of Holland, Michigan, Fannie Haagsma of Sanborn, Caroline demons of Artesia, California; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Esther and Orville Kempers of Sioux Center; brotherin-law and sister-in-law, Art and Naomi Bosch of Sanborn; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by an infant grandson; a brother, the Rev. Henry A. Mouw; brotherin-law and sister-in-law, John and Jeanette Bosch; and brothers-inlaw, Jake "Shorty" Haagsma, Donald Dummett and Carl Pennings.
The Bosch Family prefers memorials to the First Reformed Church Music Department.
Sioux Center News 2005-10-05.