Jan Arend Rensenbrink

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Johannes Rensenbrink
Moeder: Hendrika Letter
Geboren: 7 Dec 1908 Haarlem
Overleden: 4 MEI 1988 Oss
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Rensenbrink
First Name: Jan Arend
Date of Birth: 07/12/1908
Date of death: 04/05/1988
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Place during the war: Den Haag, Zuidholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Den Haag, Zuidholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/3512)
In 1942, Leni Levin and her husband handed over their four-year-old daughter, Sarah Marianne, to Catharina (To) van Brakel of The Hague for safekeeping. Leni and her husband had complete faith in To. To took Marianne to her daughter and son-in-law, Marie Mies and Jan Rensenbrink, also in The Hague. Mies and Jan had no children of their own and before long the little girl, who adopted the name Marga Rensenbrink, referred to her foster parents as "mother" and "father" and to To as "grandmother." In 1944, Jan himself was forced to go into hiding. The situation became perilous for his family as well as for their "guest." They soon found a new shelter for Marianne with Jan's relatives in Haarlem. To promised the child that they would take her back "home" as soon as circumstances permitted. However, the situation did not stabilize and Marianne's return was not facilitated. To nonetheless kept up an encouraging correspondence with her "granddaughter" until the end of the war. Marianne's brother, Shlomo, aged eight in 1942, also benefited from To's compassion. Shlomo hid at 11 different addresses during the course of the war. In the winter of 1944--1945, Shlomo was so seriously undernourished that Maria Paré* brought him to the family of Dr. Wolterbeek, who was able to obtain extra rations of food and regularly fed around ten children. (Most of these children were not Jewish and did not sleep in his house.) When Shlomo had recovered, To, took him too to Jan and Mies. Shlomo remained in their home until the end of the war.
On November 6, 1986, Yad Vashem recognized Catharina van Brakel-Kieboom, and Jan Arend Rensenbrink and his wife, Marie Barendine Rensenbrink-van Brakel, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Marie Barendina van Brakel geb. 12 MEI 1911
Huwelijk: 1940 Den Haag