This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MichaelCronk28 Surnames: DUNIGAN, DYKSTRA, EKKENS, RATERINK, VELDMAN Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kent/8704/mb.ashx Message Board Post: FORMER GR MAYOR VELDMAN RITES SET FOR MONDAY Funeral services for GEORGE VELDMAN, former Mayor and City Commissioner who died late Thursday night in Pine Rest Sanitarium, will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Garfield Park Reformed Church. Mr. Veldman, who was 69, had been hospitalized since last October with a heart ailment. In addition to his political activity, Mr. Veldman was known for his church work. He had served the Garfield Park Church as deacon and an elder and for 45 years he was a Sunday School teacher. Rev. Theodore Schaap, present pastor of the church, and Rev. Harold Leestma, former pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park. The body is in the Sullivan Funeral Home. Monday, day of the services, would have been Mr. Veldman's 70th birthday. Pallbearers will be John Hendrickson, Benjamin Hoppen, James A. Smith, Gerald F. Beld, Jake Essenberg and Ernest Slotsema. In addition to his affiliations in Garfield Park Reformed Church, Mr. Veldman once served as president of the Grand Rapids Christian Endeavor Union, served two years as president of the Grand Rapids Classis of the Reformed Church and as president of the Sunday School Convention committee of the Reformed Church locally. Born in Grand Rapids, Mr. Veldman moved with his family as a child in 1888 to a farm in Beldon Township near Beaver Dam, where he lived for 12 years. He then went to Holland to start his apprenticeship at the printer's trade. Returning to Grand Rapids in 1905, he was employed by several Grand Rapids publishing firms before starting his own printing business. His shop was at his home, 133 Brown SW. He retired several years ago, after 35 years of operating his own shop. Mr. Veldman, a tireless campaigner and a vigorous speaker, first entered Grand Rapids politics in 1920 when he ran for Third Ward Commissioner. He was unsuccessful in this race, as he was in several others in succeeding years, until in 1928 he won election. Mr. Veldman served through the early depression years as City Commissioner, being defeated for reelection in 1934. He came out of political retirement to defeat Mayor Paul G. Goebel in 1954, but in turn was defeated for reelection by Goebel in 1956. As a Third Ward Commissioner, Mr. Veldman served as chairman of Kent County Board of Supervisors, and was a member of the municipal Board of Zoning Appeals. While Mayor he was named vice president of the Michigan Municipal League and was one of four delegates from the United States Conference of Mayors to the Canadian Conference of Mayors. City officials and colleagues of Mr. Veldman Friday, included former Mayor George W. Welsh, Mayor Goebel, City Manager Donald M. Oakes, Commissioner Stanley J. Davis and City Clerk R. Stanton Kilpatrick joined in expressions of sympathy and of praise for Mr. Veldman's contributions to the community both as a city official and as a churchman. Mr. Veldman is survived by his wife, MARY; a daughter, MRS. THOMAS H. DUNIGAN of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; two sons, RUSSELL and ROBERT of Grand Rapids; two sisters, MRS. GEORGE RATERINK of Zeeland and MRS. HENRY DYKSTRA of Grand Rapids; three brothers, EDWARD of Beaver Dam, HENRY of Omaha and CLARENCE of Grand Rapids. THE GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Sat., 15 Mar. 1958, Pg. 1, Cols 3-4 & Pg. 2, Col. 7 ************************* INDEX FOR KENT COUNTY MARRIAGES, 1845 TO 1929 First Spouse: VELDMAN, George Second Spouse: EKKENS, Mary Book Number: 15 Page Number: 187 Year: 1907-1910 WESTERN MICHIGAN NEWSPAPERS, 1910 - January, 2010 Veldman, Mary - Obit. published in THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Mon., 11 Sept. 1989 REST LAWN MEMORIAL PARK, 3450 Eastern Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49508-2477, (616) 243-0294 Veldman, George, 1888-1958 - Section 28, Lot 2, Grave #3 Veldman, Mary, 1891-1989 - Section 28, Lot 2, Grave #2 MAPS of Cemetery - http://www.mygrandrapids.info/restlawn.htm Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.