Roostee Johannes & Petronella (Roeper)

Roostee, Johannes & Petronella Maria Geertruida (Roeper) In 1942, the family of 14-year-old Marianne Rozendaal from Arnhem, Gelderland, decided to go into hiding. Marianne’s parents contacted Friedje Leenderts* and Greetje Homveld*, also from Arnhem, and asked them for help. Friedje and Greetje were themselves too old to take in Marianne and her brother so they made arrangements for the two children to be hidden elsewhere. Marianne was taken to the Roostees, where she was warmly received. At that time, Johannes (Johan) and Petronella Roostee were also hiding two other Jews, Peter Lustig and his mother. The Roostees lived right opposite the Arnhem train station. Thus, Marianne was forced to witness the deportation of the Jews from there, traumatic scenes she never forgot. The Roostees also had to cope with a Dutch-Nazi neighbor who knew about Marianne’s presence, but never actually betrayed her. During the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, three German soldiers were billeted in the Roostees home. This made the situation extremely precarious. Marianne was kept in a separate part of the house and fortunately was not detected. When Arnhem was evacuated after the disastrous battle, the Roostees took Marianne with them to Barneveld, where several families, including the Waayenbergs* and the Goors*, helped hide her. During the course of the war, Petronella’s parents and brother, the Roepers*, also assisted with the rescue of Marianne and the others. On May 11, 1980, Yad Vashem recognized Johannes Roostee and his wife, Petronella Maria Geertruida Roostee-Roeper, as Righteous Among the Nations.