Johan Hendrik Geertsema (1909 - 1971)

Born 31 Oct 1909 in Marico, South Africa

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Maria Gereta (Coetzee) Geertsema — married 16 Apr 1938 in Potchefstroom, Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa

Husband of Marie (Van der Walt) Cronje — married 1 Jan 1971 in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa

Descendants

Died 18 Mar 1971 at age 61 in Pretoria

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Biography

Johan Geertsema is in 1909 gebore en is in 1971 oorlede. Die begrafnisdiens het vanuit die Gereformeerde Kerk Wonderboom-Suid plaasgevind en is deur ds. L Stavast gelei. Die teksgedeelte was Ps. 73: 1, 23 -28. // Johan Geertsema was born in 1909 and died in 1971. The funeral service took place from the Reformed Church Wonderboom-South and was officiated by Rev. L Stavast. The text passage was Ps. 73: 1, 23 -28.

Lewenskets / Biographical Sketch

Johan Geertsema is op 31 Oktober 1909 in Marico as jongste van ses oorlewende kinders, gebore, waar hy ook skoolgegaan het, totdat hulle in 1923 na Potchefstroom verhuis het. Daar het hy in 1927 aan die Potchefstroom Gimnasium gematrikuleer. Hy het sy studie in Potchefstroom voortgesit en die BA en later die MA (in Geskiedenis) aan die Potchefstroomse Universiteitskollege (PUK) verwerf. Tydens sy studie het hy sy toekomstige vrou, Anna Coetzee, wat toe 'n eerstejaar student aan die Potchefstroomse Onderwyskollege was, ontmoet.

Na sy studie in Potchefstroom, het hy 'n pos as onderwyser aan die Hoërskool Nelspruit aanvaar. Hy en Anna het op 1 Januarie 1936 verloof geraak en is op 16 April 1938 in Potchefstroom getroud. Sy volgende pos as onderwyser was aan die Hoërskool Rodeon in Swartruggens. Hulle het 'n eerste huis gehad, daarna was hy koshuisvader van 'n seunskoshuis en het toe in 'n nuwe huis in Jan van Riebeeckstraat gaan woon. In hierdie tyd het hy vir die nagraadse BEd-graad aan die PUK ingeskryf en moes 'n aantal Saterdae daarheen ry vir klasse. Hy het die studie suksesvol afgehandel. Aldrie hulle seuns is in Swartruggens gebore. Hy was lid van die kerkraad van die plaaslike Gereformeerde Kerk en ook kassier. Hy was aktief in gemeenskapsake en in die Reddingsdaadbond, wat probeer het om Afrikaners, wat arm was, op te hef.

In 1953 het hy 'n pos as dosent aan die Pretoriase Onderwyskollege aanvaar, waar hy Rekeningkunde gedoseer het. Later het hy ook departementshoof geword. Hy was hier verbonde tot met sy dood.

Hulle huisadres was De Beerstraat 527, Wonderboom-Suid en die huis was in dié nuwe voorstad geleë. Dit was net 'n straatblok weg van die nuwe Hoërskool Wonderboom, waar aldrie sy seuns gematrikuleer het. Hier was hy ook ouderling in die plaaslike Gereformeerde Kerk.

In 1968 het sy vrou, Anna, 'n hartprobleem ontwikkel en is oorlede. In Desember van daardie jaar het hy na Tallahassee, Florida in die VSA, gereis vir 'n besoek aan sy oudste seun, Jan, en sy familie. In Januarie 1971 is hy weer getroud en wel met Marié, weduwee van ds. Jurie Venter. Na 'n huwelik van 3 maande, het hy tydens 'n tennisstel inmekaar gesak en gesterf.

Hy is vanuit die Gereformeerde Kerk Wonderboom-Suid begrawe en in die Rebeccastraat-begraafplaas langs sy eerste vrou Anna te ruste gelê.

• Lewenskets saamgestel deur sy seun Jan Geertsema vanuit eie geheue en ervaring.

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Johan Geertsema was born on 31 October 1909 as youngest of six surviving children, in Marico, where he also went to school, until they moved to Potchefstroom in 1923. There he matriculated at the Potchefstroom Gymnasium in 1927. He continued his studies in Potchefstroom and obtained the BA and later the MA (in History) at the Potchefstroom University College (PUK). During his studies, he met his future wife, Anna Coetzee, who was then a first-year student at the Potchefstroom College of Education.

After his studies in Potchefstroom, he accepted a position as a teacher at Nelspruit High School. He and Anna got engaged on 1 January 1936 and were married on 16 April 1938 in Potchefstroom. His next job as a teacher was at Rodeon High School in Swartruggens. They had a first home, then he was hostel father of a boys residence and then lived in a new home in Jan van Riebeeck Street. During this time he enrolled for the postgraduate BEd degree at the PUK and had to drive there for a number of Saturdays for classes. He successfully completed the study. All three of their sons were born in Swartruggens. He was a member of the church council of the local Reformed Church and also cashier. He was active in community affairs and in the "Reddingsdaadbond", which tried to uplift Afrikaners who were poor.

In 1953 he accepted a position as a lecturer at the Pretoria College of Education, where he taught Accounting. Later he also became head of department. He served here until his death.

Their home address was 527, De Beer Street, Wonderboom South and the house was located in this new suburb. It was just a block away from the new Wonderboom High School, where all three of his sons matriculated. Here he was also an elder in the local Reformed Church.

In 1968, his wife, Anna, developed a heart problem and died. In December of that year, he travelled to Tallahassee, Florida in the USA, for a visit to his oldest son, Jan, and his family. In January 1971 he remarried to Marié , widow of Rev. Jurie Venter. After a marriage of 3 months, he collapsed during a tennis set and died.

He was buried from the Reformed Church Wonderboom South and put to rest in the Rebecca Street Cemetery next to his first wife Anna.

• Biographical sketch compiled by his son Jan Geertsema from own memory and experience.

Sources

• Information inserted by son Jan Geertsema who has all information available.
• Funeral information from document written by Betsie Geere and sent to Jan Geertsema by her daughter Tersia van der Merwe by email on 11 July 2020.