Harriet (Langstraat) Zorgdrager, daughter of Henry P. and Anna Marie (Scholten) Langstraat, was born November 30, l921 on a farm three miles north of Newkirk, Iowa. She attended Township No. 3 School for the first five years and then transferred to Newkirk Community School, graduating as valedictorian of her class in l942.
During her high school years Harriet did a lot of office work for the superintendent as well as accompanied most of the music in high school, church and the surrounding area. A special memory of her musical career was playing for the high schoool quartet at the National Music Contest in St. Paul, MN. The quartet included Milton Bogaard, John De Haan, Victor Rensink and Dr. Robert Schuller.
After graduation she obtained her teaching certificate and taught country school in Sioux and O'Brien Counties.
On February 17, l944 Harriet was united in marriage to Elmer Zorgdrager at Carmel, Iowa. They lived on a farm at Hospers, Iowa before moving to Lake Wilson, MN. They also farmed at Heron Lake, MN and then moved to Little Rock, Iowa. While living at Little Rock Harriet cooked at several restaurants in the area and then became bookeeper at the Sibley Gazette and Tribune.
In l970 Harriet began working at the Farm Bureau Office in Rock Rapids and continued working as secretary until retiring in September of l992. In l978 Harriet and Elmer moved to Rock Rapids and became members of the First Reformed Church. Harriet's love for music inspired her to give piano and organ lessons for several years. She played for many community events, as well as the Lyon County Fair, participated in the talent contest at the Iowa State Fair, and played for several Junior High and High School students at the music contests.
For many years Harriet was one of the organists at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids and for the past several years was also organist at the United Methodist Church. Harriet's musical talents were so enjoyed that she was requested to play for over five hundred weddings and funerals. Harriet also had a very special love for her grandson, Mike.
After Elmer's death on December 28, l995 Harriet continued to live in her own home and remained active with her music playing organ in church and accompanying soloists for various occasions.
Harriet had battled cancer in years past and been doing very well until approximately eight weeks ago when the disease resurfaced. In spite of medical treatments Harriet's health deteriorated and she eventually became a resident of the Lyon Manor Care Center. Last Sunday morning Harriet died at the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids at the age of seventy-three.
Surviving are a son, Allen of Sibley and two daughters, Phyllis Borer and her husband, Rod of Little Rock, Iowa and Loretta South and her husband, Glenn of Fort Worth, Texas. Also surviving is a grandson, Mike Gerken of Fort Worth and a step-grandaughter, Heidi Borer of Little Rock along with three sisters, Anna Rensink and Johanna Den Hartog both of Sheldon, Iowa; Nellie Langstraat of Des Moines; a brother Herman Langstraat of Orange City, Iowa and sisters-in-law Alice Langstraat of Hospers and Trace Langstraat of Lyndon, Washington.
Preceding Harriet in death were her husband, parents and brothers Peter and Lester Langstraat.
Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, Iowa
Harriet (Langstraat) Zorgdrager, daughter of Henry P. and Anna Marie (Scholten) Langstraat, was born November 30, l921 on a farm three miles north of Newkirk, Iowa. She attended Township No. 3 School for the first five years and then transferred to Newkirk Community School, graduating as valedictorian of her class in l942.
During her high school years Harriet did a lot of office work for the superintendent as well as accompanied most of the music in high school, church and the surrounding area. A special memory of her musical career was playing for the high schoool quartet at the National Music Contest in St. Paul, MN. The quartet included Milton Bogaard, John De Haan, Victor Rensink and Dr. Robert Schuller.
After graduation she obtained her teaching certificate and taught country school in Sioux and O'Brien Counties.
On February 17, l944 Harriet was united in marriage to Elmer Zorgdrager at Carmel, Iowa. They lived on a farm at Hospers, Iowa before moving to Lake Wilson, MN. They also farmed at Heron Lake, MN and then moved to Little Rock, Iowa. While living at Little Rock Harriet cooked at several restaurants in the area and then became bookeeper at the Sibley Gazette and Tribune.
In l970 Harriet began working at the Farm Bureau Office in Rock Rapids and continued working as secretary until retiring in September of l992. In l978 Harriet and Elmer moved to Rock Rapids and became members of the First Reformed Church. Harriet's love for music inspired her to give piano and organ lessons for several years. She played for many community events, as well as the Lyon County Fair, participated in the talent contest at the Iowa State Fair, and played for several Junior High and High School students at the music contests.
For many years Harriet was one of the organists at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids and for the past several years was also organist at the United Methodist Church. Harriet's musical talents were so enjoyed that she was requested to play for over five hundred weddings and funerals. Harriet also had a very special love for her grandson, Mike.
After Elmer's death on December 28, l995 Harriet continued to live in her own home and remained active with her music playing organ in church and accompanying soloists for various occasions.
Harriet had battled cancer in years past and been doing very well until approximately eight weeks ago when the disease resurfaced. In spite of medical treatments Harriet's health deteriorated and she eventually became a resident of the Lyon Manor Care Center. Last Sunday morning Harriet died at the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids at the age of seventy-three.
Surviving are a son, Allen of Sibley and two daughters, Phyllis Borer and her husband, Rod of Little Rock, Iowa and Loretta South and her husband, Glenn of Fort Worth, Texas. Also surviving is a grandson, Mike Gerken of Fort Worth and a step-grandaughter, Heidi Borer of Little Rock along with three sisters, Anna Rensink and Johanna Den Hartog both of Sheldon, Iowa; Nellie Langstraat of Des Moines; a brother Herman Langstraat of Orange City, Iowa and sisters-in-law Alice Langstraat of Hospers and Trace Langstraat of Lyndon, Washington.
Preceding Harriet in death were her husband, parents and brothers Peter and Lester Langstraat.
Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, Iowa
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See more Zorgdrager or Langstraat memorials in:
- Pleasant View Cemetery Zorgdrager or Langstraat
- Little Rock Zorgdrager or Langstraat
- Lyon County Zorgdrager or Langstraat
- Iowa Zorgdrager or Langstraat
- USA Zorgdrager or Langstraat
- Find a Grave Zorgdrager or Langstraat
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