Hesther Christina (Geertsema) Du Preez (1895 - 1968)

Born 20 Dec 1895 in Rietfontein, Rustenburg, Transvaal, South Africa

Ancestors

Wife of Johan Wilhelm Christiaan Du Preez — married 20 Dec 1932 (to 13 Aug 1968) in Potchefstroom, Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa

Descendants

Died 13 Aug 1968 at age 72 in Potgietersrus, Transvaal, South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jan Geertsema [send private message]

Biography

• Hesther is gebore in 1895. Sy was die dogter van Jan Geertsema en Elizabeth Geyer. Sy is in 1968 oorlede. // Hesther was born in 1895. She was the daughter of Jan Geertsema and Elizabeth Geyer. She passed away in 1968.
• Hesther was in Ermelo vir onderwys in die ho•rskool Daarna het sy haar opleiding as onderwyser in Heidelberg gekry. Sy het in Potchefstroom skoolgehou, waar haar ouers na hulle aftrede gewoon het. Sy het haar eie motor gehad, wat uitsonderlik vir die familie was, waarmee sy haar ouers na plekke toe geneem het en ook vir broers en susters vervoer gegee het. Sy is op haar verjaardag, toe sy 37 jaar oud was, met Johan du Preez getroud. Hy was 'n onderwyser by plaasskooltjies in die omgewing. Toe die plaasskooltjies gesentraliseer is, het hy verder onderwys gegee by die Swartruggens Sentrale Skool, 'n laerskool. In Swartruggens het hulle 'n eie huis gebou, vlak by die Gereformeerde Kerk, waar hulle lidmate was en 'n sterk betrokkenheid gehad het. Johan was lank skriba en hy was ook voorsinger in die tyd toe die gemeente nog nie 'n orrel gehad het nie. Na sy aftrede uit die onderwys, het hulle na Potgietersrus toe verhuis - hulle dogter Betsie en seun Herman met hulle gesinne het toe daar gewoon. Enkele maande na die verhuising is Hesther daar oorlede en is op Swartruggens begrawe. // Hesther was in Ermelo for high school eduacation. After that she got her training as a teacher in Heidelberg. She taught in Potchefstroom, where her parents lived after their retirement. She had her own car, which was exceptional for the family, with which she took her parents to places and also gave transportation to siblings. She married Johan du Preez on her birthday, when she was 37 years old. He was a teacher at farm schools in the area. When the farm schools were centralized, he further taught at the Swartruggens Central School, a primary school. In Swartruggens they built their own house, close to the Reformed Church, where they were members and had a strong involvement. Johan was scribe for a long time and he was also a song leader in the time when the congregation did not yet have an organ. After his retirement from teaching, they moved to Potgietersrus - their daughter Betsie and son Herman lived there with their families at the time. A few months after the move, Hesther died there and was buried at Swartruggens.
• Die begrafnisdiens is deur ds. AM Myburg van Parys gelei. Die Skriflesing was uit II Tim 4: 1 - 8 met teksverse 6 en 7: "Want ek word alreeds as ’n drankoffer uitgegiet, en die tyd van my heengaan is naby. Ek het die goeie stryd gestry; ek het die wedloop voleindig; ek het die geloof behou." // The funeral service was conducted by Rev. AM Myburg of Parys. The Scripture reading was from II Tim 4: 1 - 8 with text verses 6 and 7: "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. "

Sources

• From family of Jan Geertsema information document, copy received by grandson Jan Geertsema from previous generation.
• From letters written by Jan Geertsema to his family in the Netherlands.
• Information obtained from her son Hermanthrough a telephome conversation with Jan Geertsema on 28 Sep 2021.
• The funeral details were recorded by her sister Betsie Geere, scanned by her daughter Tersia van der Merwe and sent to Jan Geertsema by email on 11 July 2020.