Moeke and Opa, Iowa family gathering
Uncle Ted came to visit the folks in Chicago and he said, "You must come to Iowa," and that's what they did. They came to a place in the country close to Maurice, Iowa, and both Mother and Dad were very thankful that the Lord led them this way. But more trouble—Josie, their little one, became very sick. She was close to death more than once and there was little hope, but God in his mercy spared her life. They lived on two little places like the one near Maurice until they rented a farm in Iowa close to the Million Dollar Corner. One after another the children left—Kate, John, Lizzie and Jeanette were all married, and next in line was Henry who was engaged to be married—he already had a farm rented. But the Lord thought otherwise and took him to Himself. Henry had double pneumonia and was sick only one week. He was only 25 years old at the time. A very sincere young man, he loved his Lord and was translated to his home in glory. It was very hard to see this dear on go. From there we moved to another farm at Alton, Iowa, and it was here that Henrietta left the old homestead. The folks then moved to a farm in Sheldon.
It was also at Alton when the children there started moving away. This was very hard for our parents. They farmed some years in Sheldon and then moved to a small farm around Orange City, Iowa. It was there that their last two children left the old Homestead and started homes of their own. In the depression, Dad had a sale, and cleared exactly enough to buy a little place in Sanborn, Iowa. They lived here the rest of their time that they could be alone together. Through these years, all their children left Iowa for other places except Jeanette, who stayed living on the farm by Orange City, and Henrietta, who lived in the town of Sanborn.
In the year 1954, they could not live together alone as Mother was getting so she could not make meals any more. So they moved in with Henrietta and her family. It was always a great pleasure to have them. In the March, 1956, they decided to come with George and Henrietta to California. Mother lived on for one and half years and loved it there. At the age of 85, she departed to be with her Lord. Father still lived a while longer. He enjoyed life and, except for having pneumonia four times when first married, was sick very little, but at 85 years of age he had prostrate gland surgery. Mother had eleven children and was never in the hospital. She died at the home of her daughter. Pa Vegter lived until 91 years old. Until the very last he knew all of his children and grandchildren. They are now in glory waiting for all of their offspring—which is a small army.