Gezinsblad
Cornelis Steketee, geb. te Borssele 27 jun 1831, ovl. 27 okt 1899, Muskegon Chronicle, Saturday, October 28, 1899:
Funeral of Cornelis Steketee From His Home This Afternoon.
All the Surviving Brothers and Sisters Present - Services Conducted With Marked Simplicity - A Profusion of Floral Offerings Attested the Affection and Esteem in Which Deceased Was Held.



The funeral of Cornelis Steketee took place at one o?clock this afternoon from the residence, 141 Peck street. The services were conducted by Rev. R. Bloemendal, pastor of the Second Reformed church. In harmony with the quiet simplicity of Mr. Steketee?s life and in accordance with the wishes of the family the simplest form of service was used, consisting of prayer, the reading of the scriptures and remarks. ?The funeral was private and was attended only by relatives and near friends. All the seven surviving brothers and sisters were present with as many of their children as could leave their homes, and other relatives and friends from outside the city. These were: ?John Steketee with his son, Jacob and daughters, Miss CatherineSteketee and Mrs. B. A. Beneker; Mrs. John M. Steketee, Mrs. Paul Steketee, Mrs. C. Dosker, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel C. Steketee, John P. Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. George G. Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Steketee and Mr. Ondendyk, all of Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. Bastian Steketee, Mrs. Benjamin Van Anroy and Mrs. Ellen Hoffman, all of Holland; Rikus Steketee, of Shelby; A. G. Van Hess, of Zeeland; Mrs. David DeVree, Michael DePuit and daughter Mrs. Hiram VanderVeen, all of Jennison; and Mrs. Mary Wolters, Mrs. Fisher and daughter Mrs. Fisher, all of Grand Haven; also four friends, Adrian Johnson and A. J. Welmers, of Grand Rapids, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Seymeyn, of Holland. ?Mr. Bloenmendal spoke with fine appreciation of Mr. Steketee as a husband, father, a friend and a true Christian man. For the closing part of his remarks he read a number (of) passages from the Psalms that had a touchingly appropriate significance. These were passages that were found indicated by turned leaves in Mr. Steketee?s well used Bible the day after his death. As he had never been accustomed to turn down leaves it was plain that he designed in that way to mark these passages as some that had been especially precious to him and which he had been accustomed to read probably during the wakeful periods of his nights of suffering. The theme presented was Trust in the Lord. There was also marked in this way a prayer for the sick. ?The interment took place in the family lot in Oakwood cemetery. I. P. Newton, William Neil, H. E. Langeland, Garret Wagner, Peter Mulder and James Mulder were the pall bearers. ?The profusion of beautiful flowers, tributes from many tender friends, wasall the more fitting because of the love which Mr. Steketee had for flowers and the care he had given to his garden. Most touching was the bouquet, which as the last act of his life he had given as a birthday offering to the wife of forty-eight and a half years. These were the only flowers placed on the casket. ?Nearby stood a large floral offering from the children - a broken circle and sickle - marked ?Father.? Two large wreaths of roses, chrysanthemums and passion flowers, one marked ?At Rest? and the other ?Brother,? came from the brothers and sisters. ?A pillow of pink and white roses, with the words ?At Rest,? was from employees of The Chronicle office. The Ladies? Aid Society of the Second Reformed church sent a spray of pink and white roses; the Y. P. S. C. E. a spray of pink chrysanthemums and violets; the young ladies? club, the ?Y.E. C.? a spray of pink roses; and Miss Mary C. Steketee?s Sunday school class, a spray of pink chrysanthemums. From Dr. and Mrs. John Vanderlaan came a star of pink and white roses; from Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Dana, white roses; Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Langeland, pink and hite roses; Mrs. Louis Kanitz, yellow roses; Miss Caroline Pew, pink carnations; Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Vanderlinde, a wreath of roses, and Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Malloch, white roses.
, zoon van Jan Cornelisse Steketee en Maria Janse Fraanje
Muskegon Chronicle, Saturday, October 28, 1899:
Muskegon Chronicle, Saturday, October 28, 1899:
Cornelis Steketee died suddenly at his home, 141 Peck street, Friday afternoon a few minutes after four o'clock. He had just returned from a short drive with his son John when he was taken with an attack of spasmodic asthma, a disease from which he had suffered for several months. Dr. John VanderLaan, the family physician, was summoned by telephone, and, responding promptly, administered the usual treatment which had afforded relief in a number of previous attacks of a similar nature. This time, however, it failed to produce the hoped for result. Mr. Steketee failed rapidly and passed into a condition of unconsciousness which quickly terminated in death. Supported in the arms of his son, William J. Steketee, who had been summoned from his place of business, and in the presence of Mrs. Steketee, his oldest son, John, the two oldest daughters, and his granddaughter, Miss Nina VanZanten, he peacefully passed away.
?The funeral, which will be private, will be held from the residence at one o?clock Monday afternoon, the services being conducted by Rev. R. Bloemendal, pastor of the Second Reformed church. The remains will lie in state at the residence from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Monday. Cornelis Steketee was born at Borssele, province of Zeeland, kingdom of the Netherlands, on June 27, 1831. He was the oldest in a family of ten children, all of whom were born in the ?old country? except the youngest one. In April, 1847, the parents, with their nine children, came to America and with others settled at Zeeland, in Ottawa county. The family was the first one to locate in that township. In 1848 he was one of the first three to leave the Holland colony and go to work among the Americans at Grand Rapids. He started in driving wagons, and drawing stones out the Grand River. For the following sixteen years Mr. Steketee made his home at Grand Rapids. There, on April 27, 1851, he was married to Miss Kryntje Wolters, who was also born in the Netherlands where she had lived until she came to America and to Michigan in 1849. The ceremony was performed by Rev. C. VanderMeulen, pastor of the Second Reformed church of Grand Rapids, the church which has this week celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its organization. On September 27, 1861, Mr. And Mrs. Steketee came with their children to Muskegon where they have since lived. Here for a number of years Mr. Steketee was employed by Marsh & Foss, lumbermen, and later for many years by the well known lumber firm of Ryerson, Hills & Co. His occupation was chiefly that of a scaler. His fine penmanship, his accuracy as an accountant, his energy, fidelity and integrity made him a man of exceptional value in such work. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Steketee was appointed one of the directors of the poor. He was reappointed seven times in succession to the same office, thus holding it for a period of eight years, the longest anyone has held it in the history of the city. Under the system followed, the bulk of the work in this dual office fell to him. How carefully, conscientiously and successfully he discharged the difficult duties of this position is still so generally within the knowledge of the people of this city as to call for little comment here. While previous to and since his terms the office had been regarded as a political one, to be disposed of as such, it is a significant tribute to Mr. Steketee?s official record that he was repeatedly appointed by officials of a different party from his. To Mr. and Mrs. Steketee were born seven children all of whom survive. They are William J. Steketee, one of the proprietors and publishers of The Chronicle, John, Peter P. and Henry J., and Misses Mary C. and Cornelia Steketee, all of this city; and Mrs. Alexander VanZanten of Muskegon Heights. Miss Cornelia Steketee was visiting relatives at Jennison, near Grand Rapids, at the time of her father?s death, and arrived home this morning. Henry is a sophomore at Hope College and came home on the late train last night after receiving the sad message sent to him. Of the large family of the brothers and sisters, Mr. Steketee is the third to die. Thefirst was the oldest sister, Mrs. Michael Dupuit, who died at Jennison, March 9, 1898. The second was Paul Steketee, the well known dry goods merchant of Grand Rapids, whose death occurred at his home in that city March 13, 1899. The brothers and sisters who survive are John Steketee, George G. Steketee and Peter Steketee, of Grand Rapids; Mrs. David DeVree, of Jennison; Andrew Steketee, Mrs. Jacob Hoffman and Bastian Steketee, of Holland. Mr. Steketee?s decline in health began over sevenyears ago, following an attack of the grip. For nearly a year he had had serious trouble with asthma. During the last two or three months this had grown worse, taking the form of spasmodic asthma, a peculiarly distressing disease. Mr. Steketee was a man of a singularly deep and tender nature. Beneath a plain and rugged exterior there was a heart whose warm affection and tender sympathy needed only to be known to be admired. He was one of the most sincere and conscientious of men. He possessed a nature deeply religious, and his home has been a model for piety, pure and unpretentious, after the highest standards of a people who left their native land and came to America for greater religious liberty. For a great many years he hasbeen a faithful member of the First Reformed church of this city. Few if any families have been more closely bound together than his by the ties of tenderest affection; and his death, the first to break the happy circle, is felt as only such a loss can be in such a household. Most touching and pathetic, as we now view it, though so characteristic that ordinarily it would have caused no special notice, was the last act of his life. It was Mrs. Steketee?s birthday, and the occasion was to be observed in the evening by a family gathering to be attended by all the children at home and by the four grandchildren. It was a very happy day for all, and Mr. Steketee had remarked several times how well he was feeling. He had taken a short drive with his oldest son and on the way home had visited the green house where he got a handsome bouquet of asters and other flowers. Returning home he entered the house and, greeting his wife, presented her with the flowers in honor of the day, with an affection as true and tender as that with which over forty-eight years ago he had claimed her as his bride. Then he stepped out into the yard to gather the seed of some flowers that he had been tending with special enjoyment during the autumn. His love for flowers was remarkable and he was planning for next season. In a very short time he returned to the house in much distress and asked that the doctor be called. A few moments more and the end had come; and the flowers he had presented as a memento of his love are doubly precious now.

Gehuwd te Grand Rapids, MI, US 27 apr 1851 met:
Catherine (Krijntje) Wolters, geb. te Abbenbroek 27 okt 1827, ovl. te Musketon, MI, US 16 dec 1916
1) John Cornelis Steketee, geb. te Grand Rapids, MI, US 1 jan 1854, ovl. te MI, US 1920
2) William Jacob Steketee, geb. te Grand Rapids, Kent, MI, US 7 okt 1856, ovl. te Grand Rapids, Kent, MI, US 11 jun 1933
3) Mary (Maria) Steketee, geb. te Grand Rapids, Kent, MI, US 1 dec 1858, ovl. te MI, US 7 feb 1934
4) Dena Steketee, geb. te Grand Rapids, Kent, MI, US 19 nov 1860, ovl. te MI, US 7 okt 1955
Gehuwd 16 jan 1883 met:
Alexander (van Zanten?) van Zenten, geb. 30 mei 1859, ovl. 22 dec 1937
5) Peter Paulus Steketee, geb. te Holland, MI, US 9 apr 1864, ovl. 20 mrt 1961
STEKETEE, Peter P. Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, MI, Tuesday, March 21, 1961, Page 20:3,4

Steketee Rites Slated Thursday.
Services for Peter P. Steketee, 96, of 1715 Jefferson street, founder of Steketee and Son Outdoor Advertising, one of this area?s last elder statesmen in the field of early journalism and an advertising pioneer, will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. from Clock Chapel, by the Rev. Walter P. Hurley. Burial will be in Evergreen. Mr. Steketee, in retirement about 10 years, and for a long time in ill health, died Monday at his home. He was among the few who could vividly recall Muskegon before and during its heyday in lumbering. MR. STEKETEE, born at Holland, April 9, 1864, was six months old when his father, Cornelius Steketee, moved to Muskegon and began work for Hills and Co. lumber firm. The son, Peter, was the first newspaper route carrier here, starting a Chronicle route in May 1879 and before that had sold newspapers on the street. Later he bought a horse and wagon and traveled through the area, posting bills on barns. This venture expanded into constructing billboards and sign painting. MR. STEKETEE, for years was active in the Old Newsboys, and at the annual banquet in 1940 was honored with the title, ?Grand Old Newsy? conferred upon him then. Mr. Steketee was married in 1888 to Delia Semyn. She died Sept. 28, 1925. He was a member of Muskegon Lodge of Elks. Mr. Steketee is survived by a daughter, Miss Fanny Steketee of Muskegon. A son, Nellis, who was associated with his father in business many years, died in 1955. Mr. Steketee's brother, W. J. Steketee, who died in 1933, was in the publishing and printing business many years. For a time he was associated with the late E. B. Dana in ownership of The Chronicle. The Steketee family was well known in West Michigan. Peter Steketee?s uncle, Paul, founded Steketee and Sons Department store in Grand Rapids. Another uncle, John was vice consul to the Netherlands. George was mayor of Grand Rapids, Peter, a prominent Grand Rapids groceryman and Andrew and Bastian were merchants in Holland.

Gehuwd 1888 met:
Delia Semyn, geb. te Grand Rapids, MI, US 5 mei 1866, ovl. te Musketon 28 sep 1925, Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, MI, Tuesday, September 29, 1925

STEKETEE, MRS. P.P. Obituary

Mrs. Peter P. Steketee, 59 years old, died Monday evening at Mercy hospital after an illness of five months. The Steketee family has been prominent in Muskegon for 35 years, the husband is at the head of the firm of Peter P. Steketee and Son, Clay avenue. Mrs. Steketee was born May 5, 1866 at Grand Rapids, where she was educated and grew to womanhood. She was married to Mr. Steketee at Grand Rapids in 1888, settling in Muskegon, where she has since made her home. Her maiden name was Delia Semyn. She leaves, besides her husband, one daughter, Mrs. David A. MacDonald and one son, Nells Steketee, both of this city; one sister, Mrs. Jennie Davis of Chicago, and two brothers, John and Leonard Semeyn, both of Grand
6) Cornelia Steketee, geb. te Muskegon, MI, US 23 jan 1867, ovl. te Muskegon, MI, US 18 jul 1915
7) Henry Wolters Steketee, geb. te Muskegon, MI, US 8 apr 1872, ovl. te Kenosha, WI, US 9 mrt 1956
Gehuwd te Muskegon, MI, US 9 nov 1905 met:
Anna Karel, geb. te Muskegon, MI, US 29 sep 1880, ovl. te Racine, WI, US 1935
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