Mrs. Jeanette G. Wise, 55, of 101 East 25th St., died Saturday in Holland hospital where she was admitted Wednesday. She had been ill two years.
She was born in Holland and educated in local public schools. She was a member of Prospect Park Christian Reformed church, a Gold Star mother and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Her husband, Fred E. Wise, to whom she was married Feb. 14, 1912, was electrocuted in a power accident in 1927. A son, Robert Wayne, was killed by lightning while camping at Holland State park in the summer of 1942. Another son, Lt. John H. Wise, was killed in a plane crash while serving with the U. S. Air Corps in 1943.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Tim Smith and Mrs. Marvin J. Ver Hoef; three sons, Harold J., Fred E., Jr., and Kenneth P., all of Holland; 25 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; her father, William R. Harkema; her mother, Mrs. Jennie G. Atman; two stepsisters, Mrs. Henry Dorn of Holland and Mrs. Helen Belyea of Los Angeles, Calif.
Here are some of my observations:
- The address of her residence is recorded, 101 East 25th Street. This part of town seems to be over by Holland Hospital, but I am not entirely sure. Photos of the house come up on Google Maps, but I don't know if the house looked the same when Jeanette lived there.
- I wonder what kind of illness Jeanette had, and what her cause of death was? Her death certificate is something I should look into finding, to uncover what kind of illness it was. I wonder what it was like living with it for two whole years.
- If she was born in 1895, she likely graduated high school around 1913. I wonder if she attended Holland High School? And if so, if any yearbooks might exist which would include a photograph of her? This is something to look into next time I visit the Herrick Library.
- Jeanette is now my 5th CRC ancestor I've discovered in less than two weeks, after previously being unaware of any CRC heritage. I don't know if she was Christian Reformed when my great-grandmother Gertrude was growing up, but at least by the time she died she was Christian Reformed. This congregation, Prospect Park, doesn't seem to exist anymore.
- The fact that Jeanette was a Gold Star mother is something very sad, but honorable. Losing a child in the service is heartbreaking and I cannot imagine how much suffering she went through.
- As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Jeanette must have been very active in honoring her son's service, and I imagine she was quite patriotic. The ALA seems to be composed of female relatives of veterans, and Jeanette certainly fell into this category.
- It is interesting to see an obituary include a marriage date. The date is accurate (I have their marriage record), but it's still interesting to be included.
- Losing a husband after 15 years of marriage in a shock electrical accident must have been extremely difficult for the young family to bear. She definitely lived a tragic life, but must have been a very strong woman to endure all of this.
- I knew someone in the family was killed by a lightning strike, but I didn't remember who. The obituary confirms it was a brother of my great-grandmother Gertrude, Robert Wayne.
- Her son, Lieutenant John Harter Wise (named after his grandfather, a Civil War Veteran), is the relative mentioned earlier who died in the service. As the obituary states, he died in a plane crash while serving in the Air Corps. This must have been a very tragic loss for the family and I can only imagine her grief upon being informed.
- Jeanette's parents both outlived her, which is a very interesting fact. I don't know the reason they divorced, but losing a daughter hopefully brought them together at least a little bit for the funeral.
- I wonder who the stepsister's parents were?
Reading this obituary, and pondering her life story, increase my admiration for my great-great grandmother. Oh, what a tragic life she endured! But because of it, she was likely an incredibly strong woman. Rest in peace!
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