Gerrit Johan Geurink
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Bernard Geurink | |
| Moeder: | Johanna Hendrika Heusinkveld | |
| Geboren: | 12 Sept 1915 | Aalten |
| Overleden: | 7 Apr 1999 | |
| Religie: | Ger. Kerk | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Geurink First Name: Gert Johan Date of Birth: 12/09/1915 Date of death: 07/04/1999 Rescuer's fate: camp inmate survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: PROTESTANT Gender: Male Profession: PEASANT Place during the war: Zelhem, Gelderland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Zelhem, Gelderland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/10290) Gert and Hendrika Geurink, were a young couple, who had married in 1941. They settled on a farm in their native village of Zelhem in the Achterhoek (prov. Gelderland). Before the German invasion in May 1940, Gert was drafted into the military, where he met, among others, Piet Kraan*, one of the leaders of the February 1941 dockworkers strike in Amsterdam. Piet asked Gert for shelter in order to avoid arrest, which he did. This way, Gert learned firsthand about the anti-Jewish measures. Michiel Jacob and Helene Croner were married in August 1942 in Zelhem, and decided to go immediately into hiding. They were given a hiding place under the tower of the Lambertikerk, a protestant church in Zelhem. At the end of December 1943, while still in hiding, Helene gave birth to a baby boy, whom they called Jan. As the hiding conditions in the church were not at all suitable for a baby, the Christian physician who had attended the birth, Dr. Meyer, offered to temporarily take him to his home. Three months later, in March 1944, Dr. Meyer approached Gert and Hendrika Geurink, whom he knew from church services, asking them to offer the baby a better hiding address. The Geurinks realized the personal risk of taking in a child who could not be officially registered. Gert's brother Derk Geurink* and his wife, Berendina, already had Jews hiding in their home, as did Hendrika's sister, Mina, and her husband, Bernard Hartemink*. Baby Jan thus arrived in the Geurink's household and was called Jan Geurink from then on. He grew up on the farm, staying out of sight as much as possible. He became the little brother of an 11-year-old girl from Rotterdam, Janny Bender, who had been with the Geurinks from early 1942. She often took care of Jan after she returned from school when Hendrika was occupied with other chores on the farm. Since Jan had a dark complexion, whereas Gert and Hendrika were blond, Janny was told to be very protective of Jan and to keep him indoors as much as possible. The baby's laundry was hung away from the public eye. In case of a suspected house raid, Gert often hung notices on the main entrance to the farm, stating that people in the house were ill with a contagious disease, which deterred the Germans as well as the Dutch police. The Geurinks also hid a number of resistance workers throughout the war. In October 1944, the Geurinks were betrayed and a thorough German search of their home resulted in discovery of a radio that was prohibited. Gert was arrested and taken to Bocholt in Germany, together with his brother Derk who had been betrayed as well. They were released in December 1944. The baby was not noticed. Jan's father, Michiel Jacob, was discovered in the church, deported to the Gross-Rosen concentration camp and murdered there in February 1945. Helene, the mother, survived in hiding with the Abbink family in the village. Since she was unable to take care of Jan immediately after the war, the boy stayed on with the Geurinks until much later, after they became his guardians. On September 5, 2005, Yad Vashem recognized Gert Johan Geurink and Hendrika Aleida Geurink-Groot Nibbelink as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Hendrika Aleida Groot Nibbelink | geb. 8 Dec 1914 overl. 18 Aug 2003 |
| Huwelijk: | 1941 | Wisch |