Green- Groen, John 1884-1969 & Jennie Zwiep Family

GREEN, GROEN, ZWIEP, SWIEP, SYTSMA, SIETSMA, VANENGLER, VANENGELEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/13/2024 at 11:56:55

Green - Groen, John 1884 -1969 and Jennie Zwiep Family

This story was taken from page 395 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

John Groen and Jennie Zwiep, both born in the Netherlands, immigrated separately to the U.S. and met in Chicago, Il., where they were married in the year 1915. They came to Ireton in 1917 and started Ireton’s first bakery. The following year Mr. Green purchased the building and also, their first daughter, Marie, was born. In 1939 Marie married Bernard De Jong, also of Ireton, and they moved to Artesia, Ca., where they still live.

Mr. Green took the name of “Green” although he never went to court. He said “Groen” was a color name in Holland, and he now was an American. It is interesting thus to note that his daughters’ birth records are such in the Orange City court house: Marie Gertrude Groen and Jeanette Green, who arrived in 1921. It was during extensive remodeling of the bakery that Jeanette arrived prematurely and was born at the Jansma home, which was one block south, down the street. This house became Bonnie Sewick’s play house and later was moved to Craig. Jeanette, being only 2 pounds at birth became Ireton’s tiniest baby and many came to see her. The Jansma’s took care of her until the time her mother felt able to.

On Feb. 19, 1941, Mrs. Green passed away and Jeanette continued to help her father in the bakery and keep the home in order. This she did for eleven years, then on Aug. 28, 1952 she married Henry J. Steensma of Sanborn. Mr. Green, then after 35 years of business in Ireton, sold out to John Vermaat of Orange City. Mr. Green went to live on the farm with Jeanette and husband at Sanborn. Four years later they all moved to Artesia, Ca., and Mr. Green remained living there until his death Mar. 1, 1969. Prior to this he sold his Ireton property to the Eisma Brothers.
(end of the story in the Ireton book)

RESEARCH Notes: With not much to go on finally found Jan’s birth location and parents in the Netherlands, or tracing Jennie parents (due to possible Dutch spellings) on www.wiewaswie.nl and www.genealogie.nl and found family reports on ancestry.com from public member trees submitted by other than this submitter.

Birth Record – www.wiewaswie.nl a son, Jan Groen born 18 Mar 1884 Westdongeradeel, Friesland Netherlands, parents Bote Annes Groen ‘Pete’ born 27 Nov 1849 Moddergat, Dongeradeel, Friesland died 1933 Netherlands and Jeltje Jans Sytsma 1854 Metslawier, Neth. died 1933 Oostdongeradeel, Friesland.

Marriage record - has John Groen married 9 Mar 1915 to Jennie Sweep at Chicagp IL. Cook Co. IL Marriage Index.

Immigration record 1909- Jan Groen, male age 25 born 1884, Netherlands, last address Lemmer Holland, departed from Rotterdam arrived 26 May 1909, arrived in New York, was headed for Gr. Rapids MI, 5 ft. 7 inches, hair dark eyes blue, money $6. Person in old country Pote (Bote) Pete Groen, lived last in Witmarum, came because of friend W. De Rinter in US. Ship name Rijndam.

Death record - lists Jennie Zweip born 23 Oct 1888 Neth. Parents were Siebert Zweip and Maria Gertrude Van Engler (VanEnelen). Husband John Groen.

Census record - 1925 Iowa census has John Green age 40 wife Jennige 35, daughter Jennige 7, Jeannett 3. Parents as Peter A. Groen and Jeltje Sietsma.

CHILDREN: .
1 Marie Gertrude Groen/Green born 8 Sep 1917 Sioux County IA married Bernard De Jong on 19 Feb 1939 Ireton IA Bernard born 12 Apr 1917 MN died 4 Jul 1985 Artesia CA. Marie died 30 Oct 2003 Artesia CA. Their children were Fred De Jong and Marlin De Jong.

2 Jeanette Green (Mrs Henry Steensma) was born 12 Apr 1921 Ireton IA died 23 Sep 2003 Sheldon IA. Children – Gregory Steensma and Randy Steensma.

OBITUARY OF JOHN GREEN 1884-1969
Hawarden Independent of March 6th 1969
John Green 84, longtime Ireton baker, died at Pilgrim Haven in Artesia, California, on March 1 with burial at Artesia. He was born March 18, 1884. A few years ago Mr. Green left Ireton for California to be near his two daughters, Mrs. Bernard Marie De Jong of Artesia and Mrs. Henry Jeanette Steensma of Ripon, California. Other survivors include four grandchildren, Fred Jay and Marlin De Jong and Gregory and Randy Steensma; Two brothers of Holland, Michigan, and a sister in the Netherlands.

OBITUARY OF JENNIE GREEN

Ireton Ledger Feb 20, 1941
Died Tuesday Morning at 6 a.m. From Asthma and Heart Ailment. Mrs. John Green, for over 20 years a resident of Ireton, passed away Tuesday morning at the hospital in Orange City, where she had been a patient the past week. Death was caused by asthma and heart ailment, and her condition has been serious the past ten days. Jennie Zwiep, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Zwiep, was born October 23, 1888, at Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1909 locating in Chicago IL.
On March 9, 1915, she was married to John Green at Chicago, IL. In 1919 Mr. and Mrs. Green came to Ireton where they started, and have since successfully operated the City Bakery. Two daughters, Marie and Jeanette, were born to this union.
Mrs. Green was a faithful member of the Christian Reformed church of Ireton. She was a fine Christian woman, whose home and family were her ideals. She was a good neighbor, and a kind friend to all. She leaves to mourn her passing the widower, two daughters, and one son In law, Jeanette at home, and Mr. and Mrs. Bernad De Jong of Ireton; five brothers, Morris Zwiep of Portland MI, D. Zwiep of Hull, and three brothers and two sisters in the Netherlands. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon Feb 21, at 1:30 at the home and 2:00 at the Chr. Ref. Church, with Rev. J. R. Van Dyke, officiating. The services will be in the American language. Sincere sympathy is offered the family in the loss of their wife and mother.

A week later in the Ireton Ledger of Feb 27th 1941.

Funeral services for the late Mrs. John Green, 52, who passed away Tuesday, February 18, at the Orange City hospital, were held Friday afternoon, February 21, at the Christian Reformed church, with Rev. J. R. Van Dyke officiating. Pall bearers were George Sneider, Peter Sinkey, Sr., Wm. Sinkey, Richard Herwynen and Earl Wells.
Those from out of town who attended the services were Ralph Groen, Holland, Mich., Wm. Hoekstra, Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Don Zwiep and family of Hull, and Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Zwiep of Minneapolis, Minn., Mr., and Mrs. F. Vanden Berg and family of Sanborn, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Muilenberg, Mrs. Wm. Kalsbeek of Orange City, and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Bonnema of Hawarden.
Ireton Ledger, Thursday, February 27, 1941 Ireton, Iowa.