Gelske de Boer

Geslacht:	Vrouw
Vader:	Willem Willems de Boer
Moeder:	Antje de Groot
Geboren:	30 OKT 1892	Hollum, Ameland
Overleden:	10 MRT 1976	Twijzel
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Brouwer First Name: Gelske Maiden Name: Boer de Date of Birth: 30/10/1892 Date of death: 10/03/1976 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Female Place during the war: Twijzel, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Twijzel, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding Supplying basic goods Other File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/704) Belying his innocent appearance and quiet manner, Hielke Brouwer rescued 50 Jewish children and adults. Among them were eight-year-old Marthie de Wilde (born in 1935, later Hershler) and her four-year-old sister, Jolene de Wilde (born in 1938, later Sonheim), who were sent away from Amsterdam in 1943 and taken by a neighbor, Mrs. Dokter, who was a friend of the Brouwer family in Friesland. Hielke and Gelske Brouwer, who were already hiding Ina de Haas (later Hartog), lived with one of their three daughters, Jansje. Hielke Brouwer was a fuel distribution inspector in Drachten, Friesland, which made him very valuable as a member of the Resistance. One of Hielke’s most important tasks was to wait for Jewish children at bus and train stations and take them on his bicycle to hiding places in and around his village of Twijzel in the Achtkarspelen district. The Brouwer household was also used as a temporary hiding place for refugees in transit between addresses. Moreover, the couple hid guns, ammunition, illegal documents, false identity and food distribution cards, Resistance pamphlets, and a radio. During one raid on the house, Gelske had to stuff a pile of illegal documents into the oven to avoid being detected. Gelske made sure that there was food for those who arrived hungry and that the house was always open to any Jew or non-Jew in danger of persecution. Hielke, who was wanted by the Germans, stopped sleeping in the house and managed to avoid arrest until the summer of 1944, when some youngsters revealed the origin of their food distribution cards. Hielke and his daughter, Jansje, were rounded up and imprisoned in Drachten and later, in Leeuwarden prison, but they were released after a few months. Hielke immediately returned to his Resistance activities and the de Wilde girls, who had to leave during that time, were invited back to the Brouwer home. In February 1945, Marthie and Jolene’s mother Ada (nee Bollegraf) joined the girls, staying with the Brouwers until August 1945. After the war, Stichting 40--45 honored Hielke Brouwer, whose health had deteriorated terribly by the end of the war. On November 30, 1971, Yad Vashem recognized Hielke Brouwer and his wife, Gelske Brouwer-de Boer, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Hielke Brouwer	geb. 10 Juli 1890 overl. 23 Jan 1972
Huwelijk:	2 MRT 1916	Ameland