Tag Archives: Kreykes

Letters to the Netherlands: May we be childlike and humble …

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Laura

Not long ago, I learned a saying: “One Dutchman, a theologian. Two Dutchmen, a church. Three Dutchmen, a schism.” There is truth in this. Our great-great grandfather, Jan Willem, migrated to America from the Netherlands with his wife and children in 1889. … Continue reading →

Posted in CLOUD OF WITNESSES ... COMMUNION OF SAINTS, IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes, Letters to the Netherlands, NETHERLANDS | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Missing Grandma …

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Laura

March 20 was the birthday of my late Grandma Kreykes, who was born back in 1910. I miss her very much. I have strong memories of  my grandmother and think of her often. That’s Grandma in  the middle of the … Continue reading →

Posted in IOWA (ALL), Kreykes, Vanden Bosch | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Letters to the Netherlands: Before the throne of grace …

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Laura

In a previous excerpt from our 2nd great-grandfather’s letters from his new home in Iowa, he spoke of his distress over the illness of his adult daughter, who had remained in the Netherlands. He would later learn that she did … Continue reading →

Posted in CLOUD OF WITNESSES ... COMMUNION OF SAINTS, IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes, Letters to the Netherlands, NETHERLANDS, Smalbrugge | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

In the news … Iowa summers

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Laura

When I was a kid visiting my grandparents during the summer in Orange City, Iowa, items in the local newspaper told of who in the community was traveling, entertaining, visiting, and celebrating special occasions. Now I find in old newspaper … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news..., IOWA (ALL), IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

What’s in a name … Kreykes, for example

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Laura

The family name of Kreykes, from which I am one generation removed, is in some ways a mystery. We know that it was brought to Iowa in the 19th century by a family from Rijssen, the Netherlands. Apparently all recorded … Continue reading →

Posted in General, IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes, NETHERLANDS | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Letters to the Netherlands: The waves rise mountain high …

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Laura

My great-great grandfather arrived in America from the Netherlands in 1889 with his wife and three children, including my great-grandfather. In his letters from Iowa to family and friends back in the Netherlands, he seemed uncertain whether he would be able … Continue reading →

Posted in CLOUD OF WITNESSES ... COMMUNION OF SAINTS, IOWA (ALL), IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes, Letters to the Netherlands, NETHERLANDS, Smalbrugge, THINGS OUR ANCESTORS DID | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Grandfathers I loved

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Laura

I’d like to celebrate both fathers and grandfathers this Father’s Day weekend. I was blessed with two amazing grandfathers whom I dearly loved and truly miss. My maternal grandfather is on the left, while my paternal grandfather is on the right, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hendrickson, IOWA (ALL), IOWA (Central), Kreykes | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

In the news … visiting the Kreykes home

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Laura

Having recently subscribed to an electronic archive of old newspapers, I’m finding several news items to be compelling for family history research. Brief notices in small-town Iowa newspapers about who is visiting from out of town, who is traveling, and … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news..., IOWA (ALL), IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes, RESEARCH PROCESS | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Decoration Day in Iowa

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Laura

This photograph of my grandparents says on the back that it was taken in 1929 on Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day. I believe my grandmother may have been wearing a red poppy on her dress. In later years, … Continue reading →

Posted in Clausen, IOWA (ALL), IOWA (Central), IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes, THINGS OUR ANCESTORS DID | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Kreykes hardware store … through all the circling years …

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Laura

On my recent trip to my mother’s hometown in Iowa, I couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic for my childhood summer visits there. As I looked through the colorful photos I was taking last week of the Dutch dancers, … Continue reading →

Posted in IOWA (ALL), IOWA (Sioux County), Kreykes, THINGS OUR ANCESTORS DID | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments