Representative Gerrit Klay View All Years

HONORABLE GERRIT KLAY

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare a resolution commemorating the life and service of the late Honorable Gerrit Klay of Sioux county, Iowa, begs leave to submit the following report:

Gerrit Klay was born at Lutje Winkle, North Holland, The Netherlands. At the age of fifteen, he came to America with his parents and settled near Rock Valley in Sioux county. In 1888, he was married to Miss Effie Wassenaar, who with his five children, Mrs. Kathryn Smith of Sioux Falls; T. E. Klay, Mrs. Harold DeJong, of Orange City; John L. Klay of Hawarden, and Mrs. Geraldine Fickey of Le Mars, are left to mourn his loss.

Mr. Klay studied law at home and was admitted to the bar in 1898 and became one of northwestern Iowa’s most prominent attorneys. He gave much of his time for the service and benefit of the public and held many positions of public trust, having served as president of the school board, mayor of Orange City for a number of years; president of the Pioneer Memorial Home; president of the Cemetery Association and county chairman of the Liberty Loan drive. He represented Sioux county in the House of Representatives in the Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth General Assemblies. He also served as vice consul to the Netherlands, and for distinguished service in that capacity, was made a Knight of the House of Orange, Nassau, by Queen Wilhelmina. Mr. Klay was always interested and active in politics and was a loyal Republican. He passed away at his home at Orange City on February 12, 1939, being seventy-one years old at the time of his death. His death left a gap in his community which is not likely to be soon filled. He gave unselfishly of his time to any worthy project. His business integrity was above reproach. He played an important part in shaping the political policies of his city, county and state. Iowa has lost a most valuable citizen.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-eighth General Assembly, That in the passing of the Honorable Gerrit Klay, the state has lost an honored citizen, and the House of Representatives would tender, by this resolution, its sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the surviving members of his family in their sorrow.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

M. D. VAN OOSTERHOUT,

J. T. DYKHOUSE,

FRED J. RITCHIE,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted, April 12, 1939.