iebe Stellema

Wiebe Stellema was born in Grand Rapids, October 10, 1886, and after completing his high school studies he learned the trade of carriage trimmer, at which he was employed somewhat more than two years. He then opened a shop of his own, and he developed a prosperous carriage trimming business that, in consonance with the march of progress in vehicular transportation, was gradually transformed to similar service in connection with automobiles. During the past fifteen years Mr. Stellema has carried on a substantial and profitable enterprise in the making of curtains and tops for automobiles and in the handling of general trimming work for such motor vehicles. His well equipped establishment is at 965 Lake Drive, and he resides at 504 Michigan street, northeast. In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Stellema has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, his wife being a member of the adjunct Masonic organization, the Order of the Eastern Star. The year 1923 was marked by the marriage of Mr. Stellema to Miss Ruth Kelley, daughter of Josiah Kelley, of Sand Lake, Michigan, and the one child of this union is a fine son, Robert John, who was born March 15, 1924. The parents of Mr. Stellema were born and reared in the Netherlands, where their marriage was solemnized and whence they came to the United States and established their home in Grand Rapids in the year 1882. The father, Jacob Stellema, was here employed in furniture factories during the remainder of his life, his death having occurred n 1902, and his widow being still a resident of this city.