Vegter-Tschetter Heritage

Jennie Rutgers (daughter) & William (Opa)
Grandpa's House in Sanborn

Memories and Recollections about Opa & Moeke
posted in the 1999 Vegter Reunion Book

Grandma Vegter would nod and fall asleep in the evening as they sat at the table. Grandpa Vegter would slap the table with his fist very hard and scare Grandma awake. Then he would laugh heartily. Grandma would say, "Stop that Willem." The children sitting at the table would enjoy the joke and laugh. (Henrietta Haak Zeilinga)

Grandpa Vegter would enjoy the practice of hitting the grandchildren's toes lightly with his cane as they sat in the chairs and laughed when they objected to his joke. (Henrietta Haak Zeilinga)

When our Rutgers family left Iowa to go to Chicago to live there, I presented Grandma Vegter with a little cup from my play dish set as a farewell gift to her. It always was a source of great joy for me to see her use it. Grandma kept that little cup in her "coffee tin" to measure coffee into her coffee pot, every day. Imagine! I know Grandma loved me and I loved her. (Wilmina Rutgers Lanting)

Opa had a great sense of humor. Moeke was more serious. They were well liked by family and friends and were humble people and hard working people. (Theresa Vegter)

I remember Opa with cigars burning his nose all of the time and Moeke as being short and quiet. (Arlene De Jong Keck)
When I was a boy I would visit Josie and play with Opa. He would be sitting in a chair and we would grab his cane. Opa would pull and then let go and laugh as we fell on the floor. (Edward Meekhof)

The Vegter family gatherings are always fun! The Vegter sense of humor provides a perspective that is easy to enjoy. (Dave Meekhof)

William & Tryntje
In front of Home near Alton, Iowa

At a fearful time Moeke (and Josie) would say "Oh Heere!" (In English, Oh my God!) (Tracy Van Hofwegen)

They were wonderful people. (Tracy Van Hofwegen)

I, Harvey De Groot, recall the time my dad, Leonard De Groot helped Opa and Moeke apply for old age pension. This was before the time of social security. The Clerk of Courts suggested to Opa that he really should be able to converse in English. When Dad, Opa and Moeke returned from the Courthouse, Opa was determined to speak English. His efforts at speaking English got to be an afternoon and evening of hilarity as the De Groot kids coaxed Opa to speak English. With a twinkle in his and a grin on his face, he would murder the king's English until we split sides laughing. (Harvey De Groot)

I remember Grandpa (Opa) would throw my bunny rabbit slippers way back in the closet under the stairwell where Mother kept her canned goods. After a while he would use a long stick and retrieve them for me. (Joan Haak Van Hill)

Ope and Moeke came once a year usually at the end of November. My job was to bring in the cobs. A 1 1/2 bushel basket seemed like a truck load, one cob at a time. Opa tipped the basket over and his strong hands had that filled up quicker than two shakes of a lamb's tail. Of our whole family no one hated to see them leave as much as I. (Bernie Haak)

Opa loved to take one of my fingers and squeeze it so it really hurt and he'd say, "Let me loose." I'd look at my mother, Kate, and think, "He is your Dad." (Bernie Haak)

Standing: Hank & Hilda, Jake & Tillie, Harry & Sue
Seated: Jennie & Ko, Opa & Moeke