Righteous unto the nations

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Ik mocht niet weten wie zij was en waar zij zich verborgen hield. Na de bevrijding heeft mijn moeder mij wel veel over haar verteld en tot in lengte van dagen heeft moeder mij op de hoogte gehouden van Erica’s wel en wee in Australië. Daarom hoort Erica ook een beetje bij onze familie. Mijn hartelijke groet aan de familie Moen-Deen Translation “I was very touched when I heard that the Yad Vashem recognition would be bestowed upon my parents. Especially that Erica Deen and her family had gone to so much trouble for those who had rescued Jewish people. Through their actions the conscientious attitude and courage of Erica’s rescuers becomes relevant again after seventy years. Such an attitude is essential today to rescue and support those suffering from persecution. The State of Israel reinforces that message through the Yad Vashem Awards. Of course, I never met Erica during that time in Lemelerveld. I was just five years old then. I wasn’t allowed to know who she was or where she was hidden. After the Liberation my mother told me a great deal about her and for many years kept me informed of how Erica was doing in Australia. In that sense, Erica has always been part of our family. My kindest regards to the Moen-Deen Family.” Elly Bos Visser (daughter of and Minister Piet and Stien Visser-Keers) I was very surprised when I read that Erica Moen-Deen had nominated my parents Christina Sophia (Stein) Visser Keers and Petrus (Piet) Visser, vicar af the Reformed Church, from Apeldoorn. It is fantastic and touching that this will be recognised now. After World War II it was almost not done to talk about persons in hiding . It was not an issue. The general feeling that hiding people was what you do when you are asked to do so. Looking back, at this time, I realise how much courage one must have to do so. When the war began there were already two children in our family. Jan was 8 and Laura was 6 years old. They were told, and think about this, “don’t ever tell any one” ”, and my family kept their word! I was the 3rd child born in 1942 and we were hiding people with the family. Hetty Schaap was 14 years old and one of them. She stayed during the war and after that time because her parents did not come back from the extermination camp. I was born in Apeldoorn, at Loolaan 18, just next to the Grote Kerk (the Great Church). Under the church was a big cellar and a lot of people safely hidden there. Our house had 18 rooms and was claimed by the Germans for there operations. We moved to the Koning Lodewijklaan. The old lady who lived there was forced to leave the house. My Mother, Sophia (Stien), used a carrier cycle to try to get some food and milk from the farmers in the neighbourhood. My brother Jan died three years ago. Till the very end he still had nightmares about the war especially about the great secret of the people in hiding. He dreamt everytime that my father, Piet, would be shot , just like Reverend Borgers the father of one of his friends. I am proud of my parents who were so brave in World War II. I am grateful that they survivied the War. It is a very special event that our parents, so many years later, are honoured. It is a pity, that they are not here anymore, but I believe and I am sure that somehow they will see us all here together and see what is happening here!” PAGE 14 ©2013 Edited and compiled by Martin Moen, Perth, Western Australia.
The Grootemarsink Family Hendrik and Willemina (Mina) Grootemarsink were devout Protestants whose farm “Genista” at Lemelveld, country Holland served as a hiding place for a number of Jews. The flatness and sparse tree cover of the land meant that the Germans and the NSB frequently discovered Jews hidden in the country side. Lemele and Lemelerveld were no exception and several hidden Jews were discovered there. Fortunately, Erica was not discovered and is able to recall her story. The Grootemarsink family has not sought recognition for their brave deeds. They do however give permission for others to tell their unforgettable story of how they risked their lives and certain death at the hands of the Nazi invaders. Hendrik was born 31 January 1906 in Lemele and died 30 January 1987. Mina was born 16 January 1911 in Lemele and died 1 June 1992 in Lemelerveld. They married on the 24 May 1933. In 1940 they worked together to establish a farm at Lemelerveld, Holland. Hendrik and Mina were childless and adopted Geerhard Kleinlugtebeld who still lives on the farm. Hendrik and Mina provided shelter and food to Erica for between 9 to 12 months. She hid in the attic of the farmhouse. Her time there ended abruptly during a raid staged on the afternoon of Sunday 27 June 1943. A few days later, after hiding in the fields opposite the farm, she left for Apeldoorn. Hendrik and Mina Grootemarsink circa 1970 Hendrik and Mina Grootemarsink at their wedding 1933 PAGE 15 ©2013 Edited and compiled by Martin Moen, Perth, Western Australia.
Page 1 and 2: Righteous unto the Nations Yad Vash
Page 3 and 4: “Whosoever saves a single life: s
Page 5 and 6: Message from Martin Moen In 1940 th
Page 7 and 8: Yad Vashem and “Righteous Among t
Page 9 and 10: OUR “Righteous Among the Nations
Page 11 and 12: Minister Piet Visser and Stien Viss
Page 13: How does the keers family feel abou
Page 17 and 18: The following was provided as furth
Page 19 and 20: Jan Van Zutphen’s family and frie
Page 21 and 22: Erica Moen-Deen’s Story Extract o
Page 23 and 24: are places in this province. The ho
Page 25 and 26: My first thoughts then were for my
Page 27 and 28: Remembering Harold and Rebecca Deen
Page 29 and 30: Limestone War Memorial PAGE 29 ©20
Page 31 and 32: ©2013 Edited and compiled by Marti
Page 33 and 34: ©2013 Edited and compiled by Marti
Page 35: Last, but not least, I acknowledge

Righteous unto the nations

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