Van Nemwegen, Gerrit 1895-1965

VAN NEMWEGEN

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

Gerrit Van Nemwegen, 69, died, apparently of suffocation, early Friday morning from a fire in his two-room home in Rock Valley. According to John C. Dykstra, fire chief, the fire probably started from a cigarette smoldering in clothing on a chair some six feet away from the bed in which Mr. Van Nemwegen was sleeping. The blaze destroyed the chair, burned through the floor and was just breaking outside the house when firemen arrived. Neighbors had smelled smoke about 4:30 a.m. and called the fire department. According to the Associated Press, this was the first fire fatality for the new year in Iowa.

Funeral services for Mr. Van Nemwegen were held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Porter Funeral home here. The Rev. Merwin Nelson, pastor of the Methodist church, officiated.
Burial was in the Valley View cemetery.
He was a veteran of World War I.

Survivors include two brothers, Andrew of Alton, and Harry of Minneapolis and a sister, Mrs. Katherine Gasink of St. James, Minn. Mr. Van Newegen was born Feb. 22, 1895, at Alton. Music was furnished by Mrs. Pier Wynia organist, and Mrs. Edward De Haas, soloist.
Pallbearers were Adrian Ver Maas, Willie Hevern, Neal Bogaard, Clarence Kooima, Bernard Huraer?? (not readable)and Ted Hamann.

Source: Rock Valley Bee 1/7/1965