Johannes Willem Deenik
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Anthonie Cornelis Deenik | |
| Moeder: | Maria Allegonda Cirkel | |
| Geboren: | 23 OKT 1918 | Hilversum |
| Overleden: | 2011 | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Deenik First Name: Bill Alias: WIM Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Profession: STUDENT Place during the war: Hilversum, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Hilversum, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/7796) The Deenik family saved the life of a young musician, Eric Oppenheimer, whom they sheltered for two years and eight months. Anthonie Deenik, owner of a bakery, lived with his wife, Maria, and their five children in a house attached to their store in Hilversum, North Holland. Before the outbreak of the war, the Deeniks had rented out rooms to Jewish refugees, including the Oppenheimer family, who had arrived from Germany in 1937. In 1941, the Oppenheimers, including 16-year-old Eric Oppenheimer, were forced to move to Amsterdam, where they were ordered to report to the German authorities in September 1942. Eric used his girlfriend's Resistance contacts to return to the Deenik family, who considered it their duty to save "a child of the Israelites," whatever the risks involved. Anthonie and Maria treated Eric like their youngest child and he became firm friends with their son Wim (later Bill), who was a 25-year-old theology student. Eric was given a room in the attic where he had to stay all day, including the evenings if there were guests in the house. Since he had no false papers, the presence of this fugitive had to be kept a complete secret. A special hideout under the stairs allowed Eric to disappear on the days when the maid came to the house. In the winter of 1944, the house was searched for warm clothing and blankets but again the Germans left empty-handed. Eric was a violinist, composer, and pianist and gave piano lessons to the Deenik daughters. Anthonie managed to track down the former first violinist of the Berlin Philharmonic, a Mr. Berg, who agreed to give Eric lessons, although he was also in hiding. His parents were rounded up and sent to Westerbork and from there to Bergen-Belsen. They later managed to reach Palestine where their elder son was already living. Eric joined them one year after the end of the war. On January 7, 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Anthonie Cornelis Deenik, his wife, Maria Allegonda Deenik-Cirkel, and their son, Bill Deenik, as Righteous Among the Nations. Johannes Willem Deenik (1918-2011), studeerde theologie te Kampen; gereformeerd hulpprediker te Nieuw-Vennep (1944-1945); gereformeerd predikant te Oostkapelle (1946), Poortugaal (1950-1952). In 1952 emigreerde hij naar Nieuw-Zeeland en diende daar onder de naam J.W. Deenick de Reformed Churches of New Zealand. |
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