GENEALOGY OF EDWARD HERMAN MASSELINK, SR: Generation 10
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE HARMEN 1660-1731
KLEINE MASSELINK GEERD 1693-1743
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1719-1771
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1747-1790
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE 1771-1843
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK 1792-1870
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1829-1907
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK (GH) 1858-1927
MASSELINK ANDREW 1888-1977
MASSELINK EDWARD HERMAN, SR 1920-1998
Siblings: George (1916), Franklin (1918), Edward (1920), Grayce (1922), Harold (1924), Jeanette (Toots) (1926), John (1928), Benjamin (1933), Kathryn (Kay) (1939)
Spouses:
1 Geraldine Schipper; 3 Masselink Children: Edward Jr (1947), William (1949), Thomas (1951)
2 Wilma Pastoor Koopman; 2 Koopman Step Children: Nancy (1949) and Jane (1958)
3 Marie Helen Harness; No Children
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE HARMEN 1660-1731
KLEINE MASSELINK GEERD 1693-1743
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1719-1771
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1747-1790
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE 1771-1843
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK 1792-1870
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1829-1907
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK (GH) 1858-1927
MASSELINK ANDREW 1888-1977
MASSELINK EDWARD HERMAN, SR 1920-1998
Siblings: George (1916), Franklin (1918), Edward (1920), Grayce (1922), Harold (1924), Jeanette (Toots) (1926), John (1928), Benjamin (1933), Kathryn (Kay) (1939)
Spouses:
1 Geraldine Schipper; 3 Masselink Children: Edward Jr (1947), William (1949), Thomas (1951)
2 Wilma Pastoor Koopman; 2 Koopman Step Children: Nancy (1949) and Jane (1958)
3 Marie Helen Harness; No Children
1920 Aug 27 Born at home in Chandler, Murray County, MN; Third of nine children; Named after Andrew's mother Etta (Parents thought he would be a girl); Middle name "Herman" was named after father Andrew's brother who died at the age of two; Andrew is 31 and Bena is 25 at the time of Ed's birth and his parents respective occupations are farmer and housewife; Place of Residence is Chandler, Moulton Township, Murray County, MN.
1930 Census: Age 9; Living in Moulton, Murray County, MN
1930 Dec 24 Mrs. J. Keuning, Ed's 6th grade teacher at the Leota Christian School, gives him a Christmas card which includes a poem about Santa Claus written by Yates; Ed lists eight names of his classmates, including his cousin Gertie (Gertrude 1919) Masselink (Ed's Uncle Paul Reemt's daughter).
Left-handed Ed was forced to write right handed as required by the Palmer Method of handwriting; School teacher would slap the palm of his left hand with a spoon to remind him to only use his right hand; As a result, Ed always wrote right handed (which was almost illegible); Did everything else left handed, to include golfing and bowling.
1939 May 25 Graduates from Western Christian High School, a boarding school in Hull, IA; Class Motto is "Better Faithful Than Famous".
Attends University of Grand Rapids to learn sheet metal
Attends Michigan State College (Now MSU) and participates in mandatory ROTC
1942 Aug 12 Enlists in Kalamazoo, MI as a Private in the U.S. Army Air Corps for the "duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law"; Education: One year of college; Occupation: Sheet metal worker; 70" tall, Weight 149; County of residence: Pipestone, MN, Serial No. 16 085 435; Tells the recruiter he can only do two things: Type and sheet metal. His ROTC training allows him to skip basic training when he enlisted and instead go directly to an Army Air Force school in New Jersey.
1942 AUG 29 Writes a postcard to his brother John saying: "Hope you did not work too hard pitching bundles. Did you get a letter stating I made you my first beneficiary [of his Army life insurance policy]. Your Bro. Ed". Ed is now a Private stationed at the 564th Squadron School, Flight Barracks 344, Atlantic City, NJ.
1942 Oct PVT Ed attends the Curtis-Wright Technical Institute in Glendale, CA; School taught both aircraft mechanics and sheet metal repairing; Attends the Glendale Christian Reformed Church while training in California.
1943 Apr 1 US Army Air Corps 500th Air Service Squadron activated and stationed at Mac Dill Field, Florida; 1943 JUN 18, the 500th is assigned to the 54th Service Group and moved to Avon Park Bombing Range, Avon Park, Florida; 500th disbanded 1948 OCT 8; Assigned to the 500th, Mac Dill Field, between 1943 APR 1 and 1943 JUN 18 where he serves as an airplane sheet metal repair instructor.
1943 Jul 10 Corporal Ed writes a letter to a woman in California describing his time at Avon Park. He writes that he had just moved to Avon Park which means that he was assigned to the 500th prior to 1943 JUN 18; Describes Avon Park as the nation's largest bombing range, covering some 200,000 acres and about twenty miles away from the nearest town; Lives, eats and sleeps in tents; the 500th's Headquarters and mess hall are also in tents; Cross trained, he "manages to get a little flying time as an aerial gunner in B-26's." This does not appear to be his first letter to this woman whom he probably met at church while attending the Aircraft Service School in Glendale, CA. Ed asks her to give his regards to Rev. and Mrs. Weersing and asks her to send him her picture; Rev. Jacob J. Weersing is the Pastor of the Glendale CRC from 1938-1949.
The 500th Air Service Squadron is assigned to Avon Park Bombing Range, FL, 18 June 1943 to 6 Sep 1943; Lakeland Army Air Field, FL 6 Sep 1943 to 15 Nov 1943; Camp Patrick Henry, VA 22 Nov 1943; Oran, Algeria 13 Dec 1943 to Jan 1944; Bombay, India Feb 1944; Tezgaon, India Feb 1944-Nov 1945.
1943 Sometime Between Sep 6 and Nov 15 Ed has pre-deployment leave and goes to Grand Rapids where he gets serious about his future wife, Geraldine Schipper. Ed keeps Gerry's picture with him throughout the war; Geraldine's father, William, is an elder at the Alpine CRC where his Uncle, Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Masselink, is the minister; Ed often stayed with his Uncle Bill when he was in Grand Rapids.
1943 Nov 22 Deploys with the 500th for the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater by the way of North Africa.
1943 Dec 13 - Jan 1944 Oran, Algeria
1944 Feb 13 In the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater, India
1944 Dec Sent a Christmas card from the CBI Theater of War
1945 Sent future wife Gerry a carved wood box from Kashmir, India of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
1946 Jan 28 Returned to the United States from overseas duty.
1946 Feb 4 Discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort McCoy, WI as a ?; Brown hair, brown eyes, 5' 11", 160 pounds; Job title is Airplane Sheet Metal Worker; Fired 'marksman' with the carbine rifle; Served in North Africa, India and Burma; Awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, American Theater Service Medal, the European-African-Middle East Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and four overseas bars representing two years of overseas deployment; Had 1 year 3 months and 16 days of service in the United States and two years two months and seven days service overseas; Still assigned to the 500th on the date of his discharge; Refused to sign up for the Inactive Reserve when discharged which kept Ed out of the Korean War.
1946 Apr 05 Edward Masselink and Geraldine Schipper apply for their marriage license (Kent County, MI Marriage License, File No. 79-240)
1946 Apr 09 Grand Rapids Press Article: Sisters [Gerry and Alice] Complete Plans For Double Nuptial Rites; GR Press p. 17
1946 Apr 12 Double Wedding: Ed & Gerry Masselink and Stuart & her sister Alice Wesseling
1946 Apr 12 Friday 8 PM Geraldine Schipper marries Edward Masselink at the Alpine Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI; Both reside at Geraldine's parents' house on 1330 Myrtle ST NW, GR; Ed's occupation is sheet metal worker, Gerry's is a secretary; Alpine's minister, Rev. Peter Y. De Young, officiates; Reception after the ceremony in Church Parlors (church basement); Maid of Honor is Gerry's sister Joan; Best Man is Ed's brother, George.
1946 Brothers George and Frank Masselink open Masselink Brothers Trucking Service in Grand Rapids, MI with a single straight truck and make deliveries for local furniture manufacturers. (Father Andrew encouraged Frank to leave farming in MN and to work with George in the trucking business).
abt 1946-1947 Edward buys a small house trailer and he and Geraldine tow it from Michigan to California with his Oldsmobile so Ed can attend Plastic School in Glendale, California; Geraldine has a miscarriage while in California and the baby is buried in California at Forest Lawn.
1947 Mar Ed joins the PI-TIE Fraternity of the 'Plastics Industries Technical Institute Engineers' of Los Angeles, CA while in school in Glendale, California (Ed had previously received
some of his Army Air Corps training in Glendale).
19XX? Lives on 1117 Dickinson St SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49507 (verify)
1947 Sep 18 Recorded Warranty Deed for purchase of land (Lots 26, 27 and 28) located at 1456 Emerson, Grand Rapids, MI.
1947 Oct Son Edward Herman Masselink, Jr. born in Grand Rapids, MI.; Named after his father, Edward, Sr.
1949; Edward finishes personally building the Emerson house (with help from relatives) and now resides at 1456 Emerson NW, Grand Rapids, MI; Owner of Masselink Plastic Shop, 436 Bond Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI.
1949 Sep Son William Michael Masselink is born prematurely in Grand Rapids, MI; Named after Geraldine's father, Willem Myndert Schipper.
1951 Mar Son Thomas Andrew Masselink born in Grand Rapids, MI; Middle name 'Andrew' is Edward's father's first name.
1951 Jun Wife Geraldine diagnosed with multiple sclerosis soon after son Thomas is born.
abt 1952-1953 Difficult times. Geraldine's illness forces Ed to close his Plastic Shop and seek employment in Greenville, MI. Ed, Gerry and son Ed Jr live in a rented apartment in Greenville. Three year old son, William (Bill), lives with grandparents Andrew and Bena Masselink in the Emerson house and shares a bedroom with his Aunt Kay (in 6th grade at West Side Christian School) and Aunt Grace (going to Calvin College). Even though Bill's parents try to visit him on weekends, the family separation is very difficult on Bill and his behavior is described by his Aunt Kay as being difficult and being a "handful" to take care of. Son Thomas lives with grandparents William and Dina Shipper where he is nurtured.
1954 Inspector, General Motors Fisher Body Plant on Alpine Ave; Plant made automobile door panels and seat covers. By then, the family was reunited in the Emerson house in Grand Rapids.
1957 Dec 12 Masselink Brothers Trucking is incorporated when they contract with the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad to deliver Less Than (Box) Carload (LCL) freight in the Grand Rapids and surrounding areas; About this time, Ed leaves General Motors to join brothers George and Frank at Masselink Brothers Trucking; In Ed's wife's 1961 Obituary, Ed is listed as Vice-President, Masselink Brothers Trucking Service.
1961 Jan 2 Wife Geraldine dies at home at 1456 Emerson, Grand Rapids, MI "after ten years of affliction with multiple sclerosis"; Buried at Washington Park Cemetery, Grand Rapids, MI; Her gravestone and other records show she died in 1960, but she actually died in 1961.The home she grew up in, the home she lived in when married and the location of her grave are about four blocks apart in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1961 Jan 03 Geraldine Schipper Masselink's Obituary is on page 30 of the GR Press and in The Banner.
1961 Jun Second Marriage; Marries Wilma Pastoor Koopman; Two step-children: Nancy Jean and Jane Louise Koopman; Moves with three sons and dachshund Heidi from 1456 Emerson to Wilma's house on 871 Edna ST SE, Grand Rapids, MI; Joins Alger Park CRC (Wilma is a charter member); Some records show their marriage took place in the Fellowship Room of the Alger Heights CRC in 1960, but it was actually in 1961.
1973 Moves to 7555 Westlane Ave, Jenison, MI, 49428
1992 Aug 15 Third Marriage: Marries Marie Helen Harkness (11 Jan 1924 - 8 Jun 2006), Grand Rapids, MI; Ed's 91 year old uncle, the Rev. Dr. Edward Masselink, officiates; No children from this marriage.
1998 May 21 Ed dies Grand Rapids, MI at the age of 77; Buried at Washington Park Memorial Gardens, 1205 Richmond NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 next to wife Geraldine; his parents, Andrew and Bena Masselink; and son in law Jose Pantoja.
2006 Jun 8 3rd Wife Marie Harkness Masselink dies at age 82 in Lansing, MI; Longtime resident of the Laingsburg area and employed for many years by the Michigan State Police as the cook at their Police Academy; Enjoyed dancing, traveling, cooking, baking and doting over her large loving family; Predeceased by three husbands: Fred Coffey, Floyd Harkness and Ed Masselink; Buried at Washington Park Memorial Gardens, 1205 Richmond NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504; Plot: Section E.
1930 Census: Age 9; Living in Moulton, Murray County, MN
1930 Dec 24 Mrs. J. Keuning, Ed's 6th grade teacher at the Leota Christian School, gives him a Christmas card which includes a poem about Santa Claus written by Yates; Ed lists eight names of his classmates, including his cousin Gertie (Gertrude 1919) Masselink (Ed's Uncle Paul Reemt's daughter).
Left-handed Ed was forced to write right handed as required by the Palmer Method of handwriting; School teacher would slap the palm of his left hand with a spoon to remind him to only use his right hand; As a result, Ed always wrote right handed (which was almost illegible); Did everything else left handed, to include golfing and bowling.
1939 May 25 Graduates from Western Christian High School, a boarding school in Hull, IA; Class Motto is "Better Faithful Than Famous".
Attends University of Grand Rapids to learn sheet metal
Attends Michigan State College (Now MSU) and participates in mandatory ROTC
1942 Aug 12 Enlists in Kalamazoo, MI as a Private in the U.S. Army Air Corps for the "duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law"; Education: One year of college; Occupation: Sheet metal worker; 70" tall, Weight 149; County of residence: Pipestone, MN, Serial No. 16 085 435; Tells the recruiter he can only do two things: Type and sheet metal. His ROTC training allows him to skip basic training when he enlisted and instead go directly to an Army Air Force school in New Jersey.
1942 AUG 29 Writes a postcard to his brother John saying: "Hope you did not work too hard pitching bundles. Did you get a letter stating I made you my first beneficiary [of his Army life insurance policy]. Your Bro. Ed". Ed is now a Private stationed at the 564th Squadron School, Flight Barracks 344, Atlantic City, NJ.
1942 Oct PVT Ed attends the Curtis-Wright Technical Institute in Glendale, CA; School taught both aircraft mechanics and sheet metal repairing; Attends the Glendale Christian Reformed Church while training in California.
1943 Apr 1 US Army Air Corps 500th Air Service Squadron activated and stationed at Mac Dill Field, Florida; 1943 JUN 18, the 500th is assigned to the 54th Service Group and moved to Avon Park Bombing Range, Avon Park, Florida; 500th disbanded 1948 OCT 8; Assigned to the 500th, Mac Dill Field, between 1943 APR 1 and 1943 JUN 18 where he serves as an airplane sheet metal repair instructor.
1943 Jul 10 Corporal Ed writes a letter to a woman in California describing his time at Avon Park. He writes that he had just moved to Avon Park which means that he was assigned to the 500th prior to 1943 JUN 18; Describes Avon Park as the nation's largest bombing range, covering some 200,000 acres and about twenty miles away from the nearest town; Lives, eats and sleeps in tents; the 500th's Headquarters and mess hall are also in tents; Cross trained, he "manages to get a little flying time as an aerial gunner in B-26's." This does not appear to be his first letter to this woman whom he probably met at church while attending the Aircraft Service School in Glendale, CA. Ed asks her to give his regards to Rev. and Mrs. Weersing and asks her to send him her picture; Rev. Jacob J. Weersing is the Pastor of the Glendale CRC from 1938-1949.
The 500th Air Service Squadron is assigned to Avon Park Bombing Range, FL, 18 June 1943 to 6 Sep 1943; Lakeland Army Air Field, FL 6 Sep 1943 to 15 Nov 1943; Camp Patrick Henry, VA 22 Nov 1943; Oran, Algeria 13 Dec 1943 to Jan 1944; Bombay, India Feb 1944; Tezgaon, India Feb 1944-Nov 1945.
1943 Sometime Between Sep 6 and Nov 15 Ed has pre-deployment leave and goes to Grand Rapids where he gets serious about his future wife, Geraldine Schipper. Ed keeps Gerry's picture with him throughout the war; Geraldine's father, William, is an elder at the Alpine CRC where his Uncle, Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Masselink, is the minister; Ed often stayed with his Uncle Bill when he was in Grand Rapids.
1943 Nov 22 Deploys with the 500th for the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater by the way of North Africa.
1943 Dec 13 - Jan 1944 Oran, Algeria
1944 Feb 13 In the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater, India
1944 Dec Sent a Christmas card from the CBI Theater of War
1945 Sent future wife Gerry a carved wood box from Kashmir, India of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
1946 Jan 28 Returned to the United States from overseas duty.
1946 Feb 4 Discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort McCoy, WI as a ?; Brown hair, brown eyes, 5' 11", 160 pounds; Job title is Airplane Sheet Metal Worker; Fired 'marksman' with the carbine rifle; Served in North Africa, India and Burma; Awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, American Theater Service Medal, the European-African-Middle East Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and four overseas bars representing two years of overseas deployment; Had 1 year 3 months and 16 days of service in the United States and two years two months and seven days service overseas; Still assigned to the 500th on the date of his discharge; Refused to sign up for the Inactive Reserve when discharged which kept Ed out of the Korean War.
1946 Apr 05 Edward Masselink and Geraldine Schipper apply for their marriage license (Kent County, MI Marriage License, File No. 79-240)
1946 Apr 09 Grand Rapids Press Article: Sisters [Gerry and Alice] Complete Plans For Double Nuptial Rites; GR Press p. 17
1946 Apr 12 Double Wedding: Ed & Gerry Masselink and Stuart & her sister Alice Wesseling
1946 Apr 12 Friday 8 PM Geraldine Schipper marries Edward Masselink at the Alpine Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI; Both reside at Geraldine's parents' house on 1330 Myrtle ST NW, GR; Ed's occupation is sheet metal worker, Gerry's is a secretary; Alpine's minister, Rev. Peter Y. De Young, officiates; Reception after the ceremony in Church Parlors (church basement); Maid of Honor is Gerry's sister Joan; Best Man is Ed's brother, George.
1946 Brothers George and Frank Masselink open Masselink Brothers Trucking Service in Grand Rapids, MI with a single straight truck and make deliveries for local furniture manufacturers. (Father Andrew encouraged Frank to leave farming in MN and to work with George in the trucking business).
abt 1946-1947 Edward buys a small house trailer and he and Geraldine tow it from Michigan to California with his Oldsmobile so Ed can attend Plastic School in Glendale, California; Geraldine has a miscarriage while in California and the baby is buried in California at Forest Lawn.
1947 Mar Ed joins the PI-TIE Fraternity of the 'Plastics Industries Technical Institute Engineers' of Los Angeles, CA while in school in Glendale, California (Ed had previously received
some of his Army Air Corps training in Glendale).
19XX? Lives on 1117 Dickinson St SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49507 (verify)
1947 Sep 18 Recorded Warranty Deed for purchase of land (Lots 26, 27 and 28) located at 1456 Emerson, Grand Rapids, MI.
1947 Oct Son Edward Herman Masselink, Jr. born in Grand Rapids, MI.; Named after his father, Edward, Sr.
1949; Edward finishes personally building the Emerson house (with help from relatives) and now resides at 1456 Emerson NW, Grand Rapids, MI; Owner of Masselink Plastic Shop, 436 Bond Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI.
1949 Sep Son William Michael Masselink is born prematurely in Grand Rapids, MI; Named after Geraldine's father, Willem Myndert Schipper.
1951 Mar Son Thomas Andrew Masselink born in Grand Rapids, MI; Middle name 'Andrew' is Edward's father's first name.
1951 Jun Wife Geraldine diagnosed with multiple sclerosis soon after son Thomas is born.
abt 1952-1953 Difficult times. Geraldine's illness forces Ed to close his Plastic Shop and seek employment in Greenville, MI. Ed, Gerry and son Ed Jr live in a rented apartment in Greenville. Three year old son, William (Bill), lives with grandparents Andrew and Bena Masselink in the Emerson house and shares a bedroom with his Aunt Kay (in 6th grade at West Side Christian School) and Aunt Grace (going to Calvin College). Even though Bill's parents try to visit him on weekends, the family separation is very difficult on Bill and his behavior is described by his Aunt Kay as being difficult and being a "handful" to take care of. Son Thomas lives with grandparents William and Dina Shipper where he is nurtured.
1954 Inspector, General Motors Fisher Body Plant on Alpine Ave; Plant made automobile door panels and seat covers. By then, the family was reunited in the Emerson house in Grand Rapids.
1957 Dec 12 Masselink Brothers Trucking is incorporated when they contract with the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad to deliver Less Than (Box) Carload (LCL) freight in the Grand Rapids and surrounding areas; About this time, Ed leaves General Motors to join brothers George and Frank at Masselink Brothers Trucking; In Ed's wife's 1961 Obituary, Ed is listed as Vice-President, Masselink Brothers Trucking Service.
1961 Jan 2 Wife Geraldine dies at home at 1456 Emerson, Grand Rapids, MI "after ten years of affliction with multiple sclerosis"; Buried at Washington Park Cemetery, Grand Rapids, MI; Her gravestone and other records show she died in 1960, but she actually died in 1961.The home she grew up in, the home she lived in when married and the location of her grave are about four blocks apart in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1961 Jan 03 Geraldine Schipper Masselink's Obituary is on page 30 of the GR Press and in The Banner.
1961 Jun Second Marriage; Marries Wilma Pastoor Koopman; Two step-children: Nancy Jean and Jane Louise Koopman; Moves with three sons and dachshund Heidi from 1456 Emerson to Wilma's house on 871 Edna ST SE, Grand Rapids, MI; Joins Alger Park CRC (Wilma is a charter member); Some records show their marriage took place in the Fellowship Room of the Alger Heights CRC in 1960, but it was actually in 1961.
1973 Moves to 7555 Westlane Ave, Jenison, MI, 49428
1992 Aug 15 Third Marriage: Marries Marie Helen Harkness (11 Jan 1924 - 8 Jun 2006), Grand Rapids, MI; Ed's 91 year old uncle, the Rev. Dr. Edward Masselink, officiates; No children from this marriage.
1998 May 21 Ed dies Grand Rapids, MI at the age of 77; Buried at Washington Park Memorial Gardens, 1205 Richmond NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 next to wife Geraldine; his parents, Andrew and Bena Masselink; and son in law Jose Pantoja.
2006 Jun 8 3rd Wife Marie Harkness Masselink dies at age 82 in Lansing, MI; Longtime resident of the Laingsburg area and employed for many years by the Michigan State Police as the cook at their Police Academy; Enjoyed dancing, traveling, cooking, baking and doting over her large loving family; Predeceased by three husbands: Fred Coffey, Floyd Harkness and Ed Masselink; Buried at Washington Park Memorial Gardens, 1205 Richmond NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504; Plot: Section E.