FRANKEN, ART E. AND HERMINA (ROZEBOOM)
Art was born in Sioux Center on Sept. 28, 1894 to Evert and Louise Franken. He attended country school and helped his dad on the farm. The farm that Art lived and grew up on is still in the Franken family. The Willard Frankens make their home there.
Hermina (Rozeboom), the daughter of Johannes and Ella Rozeboom was born Dec. 14, 1896. She also attended country school and lived on the farm. Her home is also still in the Rozeboom family. The Stan Rozebooms make their home there.
Art and Hermina met and were married on March 9,1916. They spent their first two years of marriage on the present Ken Den Herder farm. Then built their own home and farm where Roger and Harvella Bahrenfuss now live. They moved to town in 1946 to a house located across from the Community Center. Art worked for Siouxland Implement until he retired. Art died on June 29, 1969 and Hermina died Aug. 30, 1979.
Art and Hermina had seven children: Evert, born Feb. 21, 1919 (died Feb. 24, 1920); twins, Everett and Alice, were born Feb. 5, 1921; Louise, born May 19, 1925; Johanna, born Dec. 13, 1927 (died Jan. 6, 1929); John, born April 5, 1930; Arlene, born Nov. 27, 1932. Both Evert and Johanna died of pneumonia. All five of the Franken children attended Welcome Township #8.
Front Row, L-R: Art E. Franken, Hermina Franken. Back Row, L-R: Everett, Louise (Mrs. Gerrit
Hulstein), Arlene (Mrs. Joel Bensema), Alice (Mrs. Henry Van Roekel), John
Alice (see their story) was the first to marry. She married Henry Van Roekel on Dec. 5, 1945 in her parents home. They made their home on Henry's family farm until 1969. They then moved to town and Henry worked for Sioux Preme Pack for 22 years and Alice for the Holland House. They are now retired. Henry keeps busy driving truck and doing other odd jobs for Ken Hulstein and Sioux Automation. Alice is a customer greeter for Wal Mart. They have five children: Conrad, born Oct. 9, 1946;; Ila, born March 24,1950; Claryce, born Jan. 7, 1954; Loren, born April 5, 1957; Mark, born July 16, 1962.
Everett married Gertrude Vis on Dec. 6, 1946. At this time Art and Hermina moved to town and Everett took over the family farm. They lived on the farm until 1980, they then moved to town and Everett works at Jesco. They had two children: Arlin, born Feb. 27, 1948 and Harvella, born April 1O, 1951. Arlin married Bev Vermeer on August 30,1968. On July 17, 1969, Arlin was killed in Vietnam. He is buried in Memorial Gardens. Harvella was married to Roger Bahrenfuss on July 7, 1977. They live on the home place of Art and Hermina. They have two children Tom and Brooke.
Louise married Gerrit Robert Hulstein on Feb. 18, 1947. They have five children: Sandra, born Jan. 8, 1949; Bob, born Jan. 31, 1951; Kevin, born Nov. 26, 1954; Keith, born Sept. 9, 1956; Mike, born Nov. 2, 1961. Sandra married Ron Schnabel. They have 3 children; David, Ryan and Rebecca. Bob married Linda Pluim. They have 2 children; Nicole and Benji. Kevin married Deb Dibbet. They had 4 children: Kris, Rick (deceased), Jason and Melissa. Keith married Donna VanDe Brink. Keith has 2 children; Kelly and Travis. Mike married Pam De Boom.
John (see their story) married Darlene Sandbulte on Feb. 10, 1950 in Sioux Center. After their marriage John was S.C. power plant operator, owned a T.V. and appliance shop. Then was self-employed as an electrician. Now is the president of Interstates Electric and Engineering Co., Inc. and Jesco, Inc. and Quality Leasing Co. John and Darlene have five children: Marlowe, born Feb. 26, 1951; James, Aug. 13, 1953; Janna, born Oct. 4, 1955; John Mark, born May 8, 1961; Doreen, born Aug. 29, 1966.
Arlene graduated from Sioux Center Schools, then attended Northwestern Jr. College. She started teaching and taught in Winnebago, Rock Rapids, Storm Lake, and then Bellflower, Cal. where she met Joel Bensema. They were married Feb. 12, 1961, in Bellflower. Joel is a minister and they have lived various places. They were in churches in California, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, and presently in Freeport, Illinois. They have four children: Brandt, born Jan. 11, 1959; Brenda, born Nov. 21, 1962; Bryce, born Aug. 21, 1964; Brolene, born Aug. 26, 1965. Brandt married Sheryl Schuler and they have two children, Amy and Sara. They live in Sioux Center. Brenda married Bill Vohland and have two children, Caitlin and Ross. Brolene married Charles Gerwig.
Each New Year's Day the Frankens would get together to watch the parades on T.V. and always having the same meal: poor man's lobster with melted butter, mashed potatoes, and peas.
by Claryce Schuiteman
FUNERAL JULY 2 FOR ART FRANKEN
Funeral services were held at the First Reformed church here at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, for Art E. Franken, 74, retired farmer and life-long resident of Sioux Center vicinity, who died at the Sioux Center Community hospital Sunday morning following a lingering illness. Services were conducted by the Rev. Jack Boerigter and burial was made in the Sioux Center Community cemetery under the direction of the Co-op Funeral Home.
Mr. Franken was born September 28, 1894, at Sioux Center and attended school and lived his youth on a farm near Middleburg. He was married to Hermina Rozeboom, March 9, 1916, and the couple farmed near Sioux Center until retiring and moving into Sioux Center in 1946.
Survivors include his wife, Hermina; two sons, Everett L. and John A. of Sioux Center; three daughters, Alice (Mrs. Henry Van Roekel), Louise (Mrs. Gerrit R. Hulstein), both of Sioux Center, and Arlene (Mrs. Joel Bensema) of Hopkins, Mich.; two sisters, Ella (Mrs. John Niesink) of Sioux Center and Johanna (Mrs. C. A. Punt) of Sioux Center; two brothers, Gerrit H. of Sioux Center and Rev. Henry E. of Pella; and 21 grandchildren.
Mr. Franken was an active member of the First Reformed church of Sioux Center and served for a number of years as a member of the consistory. He was secretary of the Co-op Gas and Oil Co. here for 16 years and was president of the Welcome Township School District for 17 years.
Sioux Center News 1969-07-03.
Mrs. Art E. Franken, 82, of Sioux Center, died Thursday, August 30, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital. Services were at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the First Reformed Church. The Rev. John Ornee officiated. Burial was in the Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.
Mrs. Franken, the former Hermina Rozeboom, was born Dec. 14, 1896, at Sioux Center. She was married March 9, 1916, at Sioux Center. The couple lived on a farm near Sioux Center until they retired and moved to town. Mr. Franken died June 29, 1969.
Survivors include two sons, Everett L. and John, both of Sioux Center; three daughters, Mrs. Henry (Alice) Van Roekel and Mrs. Gerrit Robert (Louise) Hulstein, both of Sioux Center and Mrs. Joel (Arlene) Bensema of Fairview, Ill.; one brother, the Rev. Gerrit J. of Holland, Mich.; two sisters, Mrs. John Cleveringa and Mrs. John Van Maanen, both of Sioux Center; 20 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.
Sioux Center News 1979-09-05.