Reunion News -

It is time to begin making plans to attend the 3^rd Ever Niemantsverdriet Reunion in America!

The reunion is scheduled for Pella, Iowa, USA, on June 12-14 on the campus of Central College.

A registration form is included with this newsletter. At the last reunion, we all decided that the fees should be remitted at the time the reservations are made. We are planning some activities for the entire family as well as plenty of "down-time" for simply visiting and meeting with family members. There will be lots of good food, good fun, and good people. Plan now to attend.

This has been an exciting month - I have found more Niemantsverdriets and have enjoyed talking with some of them by phone. I am sure that it must be very surprising to have a perfect stranger (of course I am perfect, even if I am a little bit stranger) call you up and proclaim to be a long lost cousin. It might well cause one to think that they had just won the lottery but hadn't yet received the notification! Recently I spoke with Nelly Joffers of Thunder Bay, Ontario. She immigrated to Canada from Holland, and would you care to guess what her maiden name was? Nelly and Pieter have four daughers -- Kathleen, Aly, Kathleen, and Glenda.

She told me there are other Niemantsverdriets living in London, Ontario, but that they have truncated their names. Indeed, after receiving a letter from Nelly with an address for Tally Nieman, I called and verified that they also are really Niemantsverdriets. Tally and her family moved to Canada in 1951. Henry Niemantsverdriet immigrated in 1953. They met at a church group, and married -- and have five children. Henk changed his name to Nieman when he became a Canadian citizen. Tally has friends in Pella, and also knows the Capelle family. I surely hope they can all join us in Pella in June. Part of Nelly's letter is printed on page 5.

A Dutchman was explaining the red, white, and blue Netherlands flag to an American. "Our flag is symbolic of our taxes," he said. "We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bill, and blue after we pay them."

The American nodded. "I know what you mean. It's the same in the USA, only we see stars, too!"

Leona Braafhart is recuperating from surgery at the home of her cousins, the Harold Van Zee family. Her temporary address with them is:

Leona has moved from Fort Madison, Iowa, and when sufficiently recovered will move to an apartment at Friendship Center in Pella. Leona spearheaded the idea of these Niemantsverdriet Reunions in America. Thank you, Leona, for a wonderful idea.

Having children is hereditary. If you parents hadn't had any, neither could you.

Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.

I received a wonderful letter this month from Raymond Olivier, along with the picture above of Raymond and his wife Johanna, and the pictures on the next page. In addition to sending information on himself, he sent family information on each of his father's family and on his grandparents. (What a wonderful man he is!) Raymond wrote:

"… the first two children, Peter and Leendert, were born at Pella, Iowa. Johanna, Lena, and John - who was my father - were born in Sioux County, Iowa near what is now Sioux Center. Adrianna, Paul, Benjamin, and Marie were all born near Harrison, South Dakota. I do not remember Grandpa as I was only 2-years-old at the time of his death. I remember Grandma real well as I was 12-years-old when she died. We have a large oval picture of Grandpa and Grandma (Johannes William Olivier and Jane Niemantsverdriet). We had some prints made and are sending you a copy. I am also enclosing a picture of the Olivier family. … (See the photos on the next page) My dad, John, lived the longest. He died in November 1973 at age 89. … I am also enclosing a copy of my dad's birth certificate so you can see her name was not Jane, but Adriana.

Because of health reasons, we will not be able to attend the reunion. We were in Pella about 5 or 6 years ago to attend the Tulip Festival. We have distant relatives living in or near Pella, some by the name Vos, Swank, Boat, Van Wyk, Van Gunderen, Slycord, Vander Syde, Steenhoek, Eysink, Van Perusem, and I suppose many more. I was 79 in October and my wife was 73 so we are no spring chickens any more. "

Raymond, thank you so much for the letter and the pictures which you have so kindly shared with all of us.

Arthur Kleinjan sent a copy of the marriage license for Florus Kleinjan of Orange City, Iowa, and Nellie Niemantsverdriet on February 5, 1891. The Witness was L. ? Niemantsverdriet. (Possibly her father Leendert?)

The approach of June not only brings our Third Ever Niemantsverdriet Reunion in America, but often signals the end of one life segment and the commencement of another. Please let me know if you have someone graduating, starting a new career, getting married, or other celebrations in the coming months so that we might share their achievements with the family.

Adriana Niemantsverdriet was born October 17, 1853 in the Netherlands. Johannes William Olivier was born December 4, 1837 in the Netherlands and came to America in 1866.

Hans was a visiting professor at Purdue University -- a wonderful school and the alma mater of two very talented Niemantsverdriets - in 1982 and a frequent visitor thereafter. Unfortunately, the Lafayette contingent of the family never had the opportunity to meet with Hans while he was there.

"I live near Eindhoven, Netherlands. My father was from Rotterdam, and moved to Amsterdam, where I was born. I guess you are from the branch of the family that lived in Vlaardingen/Rotterdam West? If so, I believe our great grandfathers were brothers. I have a description of the family tree, but not at home, I lend it to my aunt in Rotterdam. I'll try to trace you in that book, the Indiana branch is mentioned there. It is not really nearby, but there are more Niemantsverdriets on the North American continent: Edmonton, Alberta. My uncle Niek emigrated in the fifties and has 6 children (whom I met a few months ago in Holland). My uncle died 6 years ago, my father 4 years ago. " (see our address list from first Newsletter.)

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In Memory - Henry Nieman of Ontario, Canada, who passed away in March 1997.

Wedding Congratulations to Lois (Furney) and George Verzani married February 14, 1997.

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Nelly Niemantsverdriet Joffers writes from Thunder Bay, Ontario:

"I will try to explain where I came from. I came from the same grandparents as Jasper Cappelle. His mother was the eldest of four - I was named after her. Then came my father, he was named for Jasper van der Linden and Jasper Cappelle was named after my Dad. Then came Cent, he was not married, was engaged when he died from T.B. Then came Pleun, had 2 sons, the eldest was a minister who died young of cancer. The other went to Canada and died also of cancer last year. His name was Henk and his wife's name is Tally. They have 5 children, 4 sons and 1 daughter. …. My parents were born and raised in Barendrecht. When they got married they moved and bought a farm in Klaaswaal, and there we were born and raised. There were 6 children - Jan Cent, Arie, Trijntje Triens), Geertruida, Neeltje (Nelly), and Adrian Hillegonda (Jeane )."

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Reunion Details

Where: Central College, Pella, Iowa When: Friday June 12
Saturday, June 13
Sunday morning, June 14

Rooms:

We will be staying in the townhouse dormitories - as we did in 1995.

The room charge is $15 for one night or $27 for both nights - per person, double occupancy, bunk beds.

For twin beds, the charge is $20 for one night, $32 for both nights.

Single rooms are available for $21 for one night or $37 for both nights.

Children may bring their own sleeping bags and stay in the room with their parents for a one-time charge of $6 per child.

Bed linens, one towel and washcloth, and small soap are provided.

Check in will begin at 11:30 a.m. on June 12.

Meals:

Meals will be scheduled at the college dining facilities for Friday evening, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday. A continental breakfast will be provided in the dorm lounges on Sunday morning.

Meal package:

$30 Adults,
$15 Children under 12

Individual meals may be purchased at normal cost when going through the line if you do not wish to have the meal package.

Banquet only: $12 adults, $6 children

Activities planned:

Friday 1:00 - Tour of Pella Window Company

Friday evening - dinner

Presentation by Michael Ohm about his European Vacations.

Saturday morning - breakfast

Presentation by Betty Niemantsverdriet Whitworth on Heritage and Memory Albums, preservation of photographs and documents.

Saturday noon - lunch

Saturday afternoon -

• Driving tour of Pella,
• group visits to Historic Village including home of Wyatt Earp ($4.50 adults, $1 children through high school),
• visits to Scholte home and gardens ($3.50 adults, $1 children through high school),
• shopping,
• freetime.

Saturday evening --

• Banquet
• Family photographs to be taken
• Surprise program. Prizes!

Sunday morning - Continental breakfast in Lounges. Farewell and a safe trip home or to other tourist attractions in Iowa.

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Sweatshirt order form on attached page. It can be cool in June in Iowa!

Registration form is on attached page.

If you have any questions, please call

Carolyn Niemantsverdriet Bauer
at: 641: 752-3264, ( days at 641: 754-2316 )
or e-mail to: manor@marshallnet dot com
or write to: 2490 248^th Street, Marshalltown, IA 50158