The Life of Johanne Annette Coordes Kuipers

Background

Hannah as a young woman wanted to go to America because her brother, Reinhard, was already living in America for five years. Her father had to write her a letter to get her a sponsor in America and it took 2 years before she could leave Germany. She was 25 years old. Chris Johnson, a family in Danforth, Illinois, offered to sponsor her to come to America and her brother sent her the money for the trip. As soon as she found a job, she paid her brother back.

On April 23, 1929, Hannah�s father took her to a hotel where she spent the night. The next day she had a physical then went to church. At 9:00 am she went to the port of Bremen where she boarded the Muenchen (ship sank 10 days after her arrival) for her trip to America. She had soup for lunch and ice cream at 1:00 pm. This was the first time she had ever tasted ice cream. During that trip across the ocean, the weather was very stormy and by 4:00 pm, she went on deck because she was too seasick too lie down, in fact, almost everyone on board was sick. ( photo- ship) #2)

On May 6, 1929, she arrived at Ellis Island, New York, where she was processed and then boarded a train to Chicago (she saw her first black person on the train). She had to change trains to go to Danforth where she met her brother, Reinhard. Chris Johnson gave her first housekeeping job. Before she starting working for Joe Kuipers she had three other housekeeping jobs. Joe had just recently lost his wife and he was left with three boys (ages 6, 8, 10) to rear on his farm. On December 31, 1931 she married Joe and together they had three children, Wilbur, Devanna, and Caroline. (photos #3 Reihard and Johanne ,#4 Joe & Johanne marriage,#5 Joe and Johanne with children)

Life on the Farm

Hannah was very talented in crocheting, knitting, embroidering, quilting and sewing all the clothes for the children while they were growing up. She made her own clothes as well. In addition, she sewed all our doll clothes and made stuffed animals for Christmas gifts.

In the summer she canned and froze many vegetables and fruits from her garden. She planted beautiful flowers and often brought them in the house and put them on the table. Her favorite flowers were roses.

Every Saturday morning Hannah would bake bread, as Joe would not eat bread from the grocery store. There were times she would spend the entire morning making bread, pies, cookies and cake. Devanna and Caroline would sneak the dough and eat it raw before it was baked. They loved the raw cookie dough especially the pie dough with sugar, cinnamon and butter. It was so good! What wonderful memories we have of her spending so much time in the kitchen on those Saturday mornings.

During the summer besides preparing for three meals each day she had to prepare morning and afternoon lunches for the men who were helping to put up hay in the barn and threshing oats. Also, Devanna and Caroline would take their father lunches while he was planting and cultivating the crops with his horses.

Our vacation each summer was going to the Iroquois County 4-H Fair. Hannah would prepare fried chicken, homemade pies, potato salad and baked beans to take for our dinner at the fair. We would pack it in the trunk of our car and put blankets on the ground and eat it. It always tasted so good when we would eat outside at the fair. It was the highlight of our summer while we were growing up.

Hannah learned to speak English by teaching herself. She taught herself writing English when Caroline went away to college by using a dictionary for spellings and meanings of words. This was quite an accomplishment for her. She received her United States Citizenship on September 3, 1941.

After the war, Hannah received a letter from her family in Germany dated May 30, 1946 requesting clothing, shoes, tea, candy and cigarettes. She packed all those things and made sure the candy, tea and cigarettes were hidden in pockets so the Germans would not confiscate those items. She was always so excited when she received a letter from her family members. Those letters were written on very light and thin tissue paper to keep the weight down to save money. (letter #6)

Hannah visited her homeland in July 1958 and was the only time she returned to Germany. She asked Devanna and Caroline to go back with her, but they did not want to go because they could not speak German and her family in Germany did not speak English. (photo Johanne leaving for Germany #7)

Hannah was always so excited when her siblings would come to see her in America. Hinrich and Cornelia Coordes visited in April 1970 and May 1977. Adele Rah and Christine Zimmerman visited her in October 1970 and May 1976. (photo #8 brother visiting from Germany & #9 sisters visiting from Germany)

Children of Hannah and Joe Kuipers

Wilbur Alvin Kuipers

Wilbur was born February 26, 1933. He went by the nickname Bill. He joined the Airforce after graduating from high school. During his working career, he was in marketing for Phil-Ford and TRW. Later he worked in the space program in the satellite division for Rockwell. Bill loved to cook and he was good at it too. His favorite pastime was to make new recipes and have family and friends over to eat and drink. He was married, but never had any children. In November 1999, he passed away from an accidental fall in his home in Lompoc, California. (photo10 Bill Kuipers)

Devanna Christine Kuipers Hurt

Devanna (known as Dee to family and friends) was born on December 23, 1940. Dee had a career in the property insurance world for over 30 years. She retired in 2004 as Manager/Secretary/ Treasurer from Farmers Pioneer Mutual Insurance Company. Marshall, her husband, retired as Water Superintendent for the City of Gilman in July 1999. They live in Gilman, Illinois. They are enjoying their retirement years traveling, cruising, playing cards with friends and going to the Health Club. They have one son, Mark. (photo #11Dee and Marshall Hurt)

Mark Arnold Hurt

Mark graduated from Northeast Missouri State University in 1984 with a BS Degree in Agriculture Business. After graduation he attended the University of Missouri. His first job was in the state of Iowa as a sales/marketing representative for an agricultural magazine. He started a new computer program in the customer service department for a Tractor Supply Company. His present job is in customer service for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. His wife, Paula, also works for Blue Cross & Blue Shield in the Membership Services Department. He married Paula in 1992. They do not have any children, but have two dogs named Dakota and Pebbles. They live in Minnesota. (photo #12 Mark and Paula Hurt)

Caroline Elizabeth Kuipers Patterson

Caroline was born March 10. 1943. After high school she went to Eastern Illinois University and received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She moved to California to get out of the cold weather and received her first teaching job in Garden Grove, California. Later she received her Master�s and her doctorate degrees. Having worked in all levels of education for 39 years from teaching to administration, she retired in 2005. She is married to Robert Patterson. Robert was also a teacher and administrator in Garden Grove and retired in 1986. Later he received his degree in gemology and had his own jewelry store for 12 years. The live in Corona del Mar, California. (photo #13 Caroline and Robert Patterson)

Caroline�s first child, Jodee, was born August 9, 1965. Jodee followed in her mother�s footsteps in education and is presently Assistant Superintendent of Personnel in San Juan Capistrano, California. She met her husband at San Diego State University. When she brought her husband to be, Doug, home, Robert and Caroline were planning a trip to Europe. At the dining room table, Robert asked Caroline what her mother�s maiden name was. Doug responded �Coordes� and Caroline asked how he knew my mother�s maiden name. Doug said that is my mother�s maiden name. We found out later that Doug and Jodee are fifth cousins. Matter of fact, Doug�s mother, Anita, had visited Reinhard in Illinois years earlier. Doug and Jodee have three children, Thea, Griffin and Rilee. Jodee is an avid horse rider. She and Doug have three horses. They live in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. (photo #14 Doug and Jodee Brentlinger)

Caroline�s youngest daughter, Annette, was born on June 13, 1971. Annette is a school nurse in Newport Beach, California. She was married to Phil Dunn in 1999. Phil works in marketing for a technology company. Together they have 3 children, Ryder, Jameson and Charlotte. Annette loves to cook like her Uncle Bill and entertain in her home. They live in Newport Beach, California. (photo #15 Annette and Phil Dunn and family)

Robert and Caroline have been married for 43 years and are now enjoying their retirement. They both love to travel and play golf. Caroline plays tennis and still works part-time supervising intern teachers. In 1985, Robert and Caroline visited Germany and had the pleasure of meeting many family members. Caroline was amazed how much Aunt Christine looked like her mom when she saw her for the first time. It was an amazing trip since neither of us spoke German, but we had so much fun with the relatives using hand gestures and one- word explanations. We were so welcomed by the Coordes family. (#16 Caroline and Robert Patterson family)

Coordes Family Reunion

Devanna and Caroline composed this narrative in 2013 from the best of their memories from their mother. She truly was an amazing and wonderful mother to all of us.