DePree, Neal 1884-1962 & Cynthia Boer Family

DEPREE, BOER, BOLKS, KUIPER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/8/2024 at 07:14:04

DePree, Neal 1884-1962 and Cynthia Boer Family

This family story was taken from pages 335-336 of the Maurice Centennial Book (1891-1991) and was authored by their sons. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg. Spellings were left as noted in the cited source.

Neal De Pree was born April 20, 1884, at Sioux Center, Iowa, the sixth child born to Rev. and Mrs. James De Pree. Neal received his education at the Sioux Center Public School, leaving those halls of learning just a few days prior to the graduation ceremonies in 1902. (It was said that this decision, on his part, was the result of a verbal altercation with one of the local school pedagogues.)

Cynthia Boer was born August 8, 1885, at Alton, Iowa, the third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Boer. This family moved to Sioux Center, soon after Cynthia was born. Her first few years of school were in Rural School taught by her sister Kate, including the time she suffered a broken leg when a cyclone picked up the school and it disintegrated in mid-air, depositing the children in a muddy slough. She completed her education in Sioux Center, graduating from the high school in 1902. She taught in rural schools for several years, as did her two older sisters and a younger brother.

November 27,1907, Cynthia was united in marriage with Neal De Pree, and they established their home in Sioux Center. To this union were born two sons, K.J. in 1912, and S.B. in 1918.

Neal was mechanically inclined, and was in partnership with Henry Eggink in an implement business. After a few years Mr. Eggink sold his interest, and Will Bruns entered the firm. Soon after, Neal left, and established an auto repair business. He became the owner of the first 4-cylinder automobile in Sioux Center, a Firestone-Columbus, purchased from Eddie Rickenbacker, who at that time was often in Sioux City, driving his racer at the dirt track speedway. Neal later also had the agency for Willys-Overland automobiles. As an example of his mechanical expertise, and the quality of the products he sold, he fine-tuned a 1917 Overland, Model 85-6, to where it would crawl at one mile per hour in high gear. This car was owned by Arie Steenhoven, from Boyden, Iowa.

In mid-October of 1918 (very shortly after the birth of their second son) the family moved to Ireton, where Neal was employed as mechanic at Lin Houlton’s Garage. At this time Cynthia’s parents began making their home with daughter Cynthia and her family, as Mrs. Boer was in failing health. In December of 1920, the family moved to a farm in Eagle Township. Mr. Boer was active in helping with the farm work. In 1929 the family moved to a farm in Reading Township, and three years later to the Fitzpatrick farm adjoining Maurice. (Cynthia’s parents had died prior to this.) Neal engaged in carpenter work for a few years, and then became manager of the Maurice Branch of Van Eizenga Lumber & Coal, headquartered at Orange City, Iowa. He served in this capacity until failing eyesight forced his retirement. Neal was elected mayor of Maurice in 1944, and served as such through 1961. He also had been manager of the Maurice Softball Team for several years, and had been a baseball fan for many years and played the game as a pitcher in days of yore in Sioux Center.

Cynthia was a very active member of the Sunshine Circle (Ladies Society) of the First Reformed Church of Maurice, and her talents as cook and homemaker were par excellence, as can be attested to by her sons. She died June 28, 1947, after an illness of several months with cancer, during which time she received loving care from our neighbor, Mrs. Otto De Jong.

Neal spent the last few years of his life at the home of John and Daisy Van Der Weide, and died April 13, 1962, at Orange City Hospital, having suffered an aneurysm one week before.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF Mr. and Mrs. Neal De Pree by their sons K.J. and S.B. De Pree

RESEARCH Notes: from local archives on this web page and from a family report on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter.

Cornelius ‘Neal’ De Pree was born 20 Apr 1884 Sioux Center IA died 13 Apr 1962 Orange City IA. He was the son of Rev Jacobus ‘James’ De Pree 1845-1927, and Johanna Bolks 1844-1932. He married Klaazina ‘Cynthia’ Boer 1885-1947.

Klaazina Cynthia Boer was born 8 Sep 1885 Alton Sioux IA and died 28 Jun 1947 Maurice IA. She was the daughter of Jan Klaas Boer 1845-1938 and Geesje Klaazina ‘Grace’ Kuiper 1846-1934. Neal and Cynthia had the following children:

CHILDREN:

1. Kenneth John James De Pree born 26 Feb 1912 Sioux Center IA died 26 Feb 2000 at Rock Rapids buried Maurice IA He married Gladys Den Herder 1920-2010. they were from Maurice. They had two sons Barry and Scott of George IA.
His obit was in the Sioux County Capital of Mar 2, 2000.

2. Seine Byron De Pree born 6 Oct 1918 Sioux Center IA died 5 Nov 1995 Littleton, CO. He married Margaret June Roggen 1918-2007. They were from Englewood CO. One child Kim Randall De Pree and one other child not mentioned due to privacy on internet.

OBITUARY OF NEAL DE PREE
Source:Hawarden Independent (4-19-1962)
Former Mayor Of Maurice Dies
Funeral services for Neal DePree,77, former mayor of Maurice and a brother of Mrs Henry Evenhuis of Hawarden who died Friday at an Orange City hospital, were held at 1:30 Monday at the Reformed church at Maurice. Rev. John Roggen of Sioux Center officiated with burial in the Maurice cemetery, Sherman township.
Mr. De Pree was born April 20, 1884, at Sioux Center. He married Cynthia Boer at Sioux Center on November 27, 1907. She died in 1947. Mr. De Pree was mayor of Maurice for 18 years until he resigned in January of this year because of failing eyesight.
Survivors include two sons, Kenneth J. De Pree of Maurice and S.Byron De Pree of Englewood, Colo; a sister Mrs. Henry Evenhuis of Hawarden and four grandchildren.

OBITUARY OF CYNTHIA DE PREE 1885-1947
Sioux County Capital July 10, 1947
Mrs. Neal De Pree passed away Saturday morning at her home in Maurice, following an illness of many months. She was 61 years old.
Cynthia Boer was born at Alton, Iowa on August 8, 1885. When yet a child she moved with her parents to Sioux Center, Iowa. She graduated from the Sioux Center High School in 1902, and taught in rural schools for a few years. On November 27, 1907 she was united in marriage to Neal De Pree and they made their home in Sioux Center until 1920. From 1920 to 1929 they lived at Ireton, and then moved to Maurice.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Kenneth of Maurice and Byron of Englewood, Colorado, and a sister, Mrs. Kate B. Stoll of Fontanelle, Iowa, and a brother Benjamin C. Boer of Cleveland OH. There is one grandson. Mrs. De Pree was a member of the First Reformed church of Maurice where funeral services were held the afternoon of June 30. Rev. J. A Roggen officiated. Burial was in Sherman Township cemetery.

Picture is from page 336 of the Maurice Centennial book.

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