Obituary - Alton Democrat - Friday, June 4, 1943
Mrs. G. Keizer Early Resident Here Psses On
Funeral This Thurs. Afternoon at Alton Ref. Church
Mrs. Gerben Keizer, beloved early Alton resident passed on Sunday morning, May 30th, at 9:45 in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gerrit Rensink. Mrs. Keizer was 85 years of age, 2 months and 7 days of age and for the last three years have received during her illness the loving care of her daughter.
Lydia Calsbeek was born Mar. 28, 1858 in the Netherlands and was married Sept. 15, 1877 to Gerban Keizer. With their five children, the couple came to the United States in 1887, arriving September 11, after a voyage of two weeks.
They settled at Orange City, where Mrs. Keizer's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Calsbeek, had preceded them six years earlier. The Calsbeeks were the first immigrants to ride on the newly built Northwestern Ry through to Orange City, then the end of the line.
Six more children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keizer after their arrivel in America, making eleven in all, of whom eight survive, namely: Sarah, Mrs. John Schut, Granger, Wash.; Martha, Mrs. Wesley Giebink, Alton; Cornelius, Mountain Home, Idaho; Peter, Alton; Josie, Mrs. Gerrit Resnick, Hospers; Gerben, Hawardeen; Bert, Orange City and Wesley of Sheldon. William died in childhood Lydia about 10 years ago and John last November 9th. There are 25 grandchildren and 15 great granchildren, in whom Mrs. Keizer took the greatest interest. A number of her grandsons are in the Army and Navy and she followed news of the war the the keenest attention asking to be read the news only a few days before her passing.
The family moved to Holland, Minn. in 1900 but returned to Orange City in 1903. Mr. Keizer died thirty years ago and after that Mrs. Keizer kept house for her sons a frew years then established her home in Alton.
She was a most devoted mother and was an especially fine seamstreess making all the clothes for her children even to expertly tailoring the boy's suties. She was a kind neighbor and loved by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock at the Peter Keizer house and at 1:30 in the First Reformed Church.
Conelius Keizer is expected from Idaho for the servies, also one of Mrs. Keizer's grandsons, Pvt. Gerald Keizer, of Ft. Leavenworth. Mrs. Schut has been with her mother the past two weeks.