15688 - Miedema, Kenneth

Event Date : Wednesday, November 05, 1952
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Newmarket, Ont.
Community : Other - Bradford
Street :
Lot :
Concession : 0
Description : The very sudden passing of Mr. Kenneth Miedema on the evening of Nov. 5, removed from the Holland Marsh one of its highly esteemed pioneer residents. Death occured at his home, R.R. 2, Newmarket, the result of coronary thrombosis.Mr. Miedema was born at Blessum, Holland, 63 years ago. In 1913 he married Tietje Kloosterman and Mr. and Mrs. Miedema farmed in Holland until coming to Canada in 1927. The family first settled in Hamilton but in 1935 moved with the other Dutch settlers to the Holland Marsh and to the little village of Ansnorveld founded by that group of pioneer families. Mr. Miedema and his family have therefore played a prominent part in development of the Marsh, he having been a marsh gardener from the days of the first gardeners and first settlers.As a pioneer he was one of those devout men who built the first church on the marsh and as a member of that church, The Christian Reformed Church, watched it grow into the thrice enlarged, and then into two churches, which now accommodate that congregation. His funeral services were from that church and, the congregation being temporarily without a minister, a friend of the congregation, Rev. S. Brondsema of Barrie, conducted the services.When residing in Holland, Mr. Miedema was a veteran of the First World War.Surviving are his wife; two sons, Tom and John; and one daughter, Mrs. George Verkaik (Margaret), all residing on the marsh area.The funeral was held on Saturday with interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.The pallbearers were chosen from among the early marsh settlers, namely, Messrs. S. Winter, E. De Jong, J. Van Dyke, R. Hyma, H. Prins and J. Vandergoot.