Geertruida Heitink

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Gerrit Hendrik Heitink
Moeder: Johanna Geertruida Stoltenborg
Geboren: 25 OKT 1889 IJzevoorde, Doetinchem
Overleden: 14 MRT 1973 onbekend
Religie: Ned. Hervormd
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Bulterman
First Name: Geertruida
Maiden Name: Heitink
Alias: TRUI
Date of Birth: 25/10/1889
Date of death: 14/03/1973
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Profession: FARMERS WIFE
Place during the war: Doetinchem, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Doetinchem, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding Supplying basic goods Arranging shelter
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2304)
After being betrayed at their first hiding place the four members of the Heilbron family---mother Alida, father Abraham, son Herman, and daughter Henriette - contacted the grandfather. He advised them to speak to his acquaintance, Marinus Bulterman, in Doetinchem, Gelderland. Marinus, who was aware of the tremendous danger the Jews were living in, took them into his home and assured them that he would not let them go until he found a safe address for the mother and daughter. He invited the father and son to remain with him. After locating a safe hideout for the women, he regularly visited them with his wife, Geertruida, (Trui), and their daughter Jo, bringing them food and money. The Bultermans and their guests broke off all connections with the outside world. The Bultermans continued to harbor the Heilbrons even after their money ran out and they could no longer contribute towards their expenses. The Bultermans' farmhouse had several open spaces that were converted into secret hiding places. Three men slept together in one of them whenever the Germans were searching houses. Marinus and Trui also hid downed Allied pilots before helping them return to their units. When Marinus was summoned for forced labor in Germany, his father suggested that he go into hiding with the two Jews in his home. Later on, towards the end of the war, when the Germans mobilized all male members of the community to help construct the fortifications in Doetinchem, Marinus again refused to go, thereby endangering his life. When the Landwacht eventually raided the farmhouse, Marinus said to them that they were surely searching for him and not "the refugees from the south," and he promised to "resume" his work for the German war effort. After this incident, Herman and his father felt that they should leave, but Marinus said that the end of the war was imminent and that they should stay. However, in the last few days of the war, German soldiers appropriated the farm. Marinus arranged for a fellow farmer to hide his charges. He boldly informed the German soldiers billeted on his property that he was moving with the "refugees" to another farm. A few days later, they returned and discovered that Canadian soldiers had secured the farm. During the course of their time in hiding, the Bultermans maintained excellent relations with their wards. The grandmother was living with them during the war and Herman later remembered her special love and care for him.
On July 8, 1982, Yad Vashem recognized Marinus Bulterman and his wife, Geertruida Bulterman-Heitink, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Marinus Hendrikus Bulterman geb. 19 Dec 1891 overl. 28 Sept 1966
Huwelijk: XXXX onbekend