Johanna Maria Verspeek

This memorial page is dedicated to Johanna Maria Verspeek, one of more than 725 war victims connected to the municipality of Deurne documented by Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers. The municipality of Deurne and the surrounding villages of Liessel, Vlierden, Helenaveen, Neerkant and Zeilberg were liberated in the autumn of 1944 during heavy fighting. Victims fell on all sides: Allied soldiers from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand, and German soldiers.

But the archive covers more than just the combat victims on Deurne soil. Residents of Deurne who lost their lives elsewhere are also commemorated: civilians who were murdered in concentration camps, forced labourers who died in Germany, people who were executed or succumbed to the effects of persecution and oppression. In addition, residents of Deurne who entered German military service and were killed elsewhere are also included.

Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers has been documenting the story of all these people since 1995, without distinction of nationality, side or background. The goal is to give every person a name and a face, and to keep their memory alive.

Additional information

Daughter of Hendrikus Verspeek and Petronella Welten, widow of Johannes Rijnders.

In the book *Liessel Brandt*, compiled by Harrie Rijnders (son of Johanna Maria Verspeek), which describes the history of Liessel during the Second World War, Willem Rijnders (also a son): “Meanwhile, the elders had deliberated on the safety of us all. It was decided that we would be given shelter in the Molenberg. My terminally ill mother was also taken there, along with her bed.”

A few days later, Johanna Maria Verspeek was taken to Driek van Bommel’s cellar, but she could no longer remain in her sickbed there; consequently, with the help of Lennard Hoeben and his covered ‘Kremerswagen’, to her sister’s home at Klein Fortuintje in Asten.

Two pages later, her son wrote: “The four of us set off for Someren, where the rest of our family had by then fled. The road to Someren was blocked by approaching tanks and lorries full of soldiers. The only escape route available to civilians was the road via Sluis-X. A long, anxious queue of people stretched from Asten to Lierop and Someren, lugging all manner of things with them. On this road, we saw a cyclist coming towards us from the opposite direction. It turned out to be a relative of ours. He had hoped that we would be fleeing towards Someren. He brought us the sad news that Mother was very unwell and that she would receive the Last Rites that very day. Upon arriving at Hannesoom Verspeek’s house, we were still present for the administration of the last sacraments. Soon afterwards, she closed her eyes. Whilst the family prepared to flee further from the advancing enemy, we kept vigil by her side. We buried her in Someren in complete silence.”

From the above, as well as from an email exchange with her next of kin, it is plausible that Johanna Maria Verspeek should not be classified as a war victim; however, in the death register of the Municipality of Deurne, the registrar noted the entry ‘war casualty’. Why this note was made at the time remains a matter of speculation; possibly the date of death was the cause or a mistake, given that fierce fighting took place in the region on that day and consequently many deaths were to be mourned. On the other hand, these battles could also have meant that a sick or wounded person, due to the violence of war and the associated dangers, could not be seen by a doctor, or transported to a doctor or hospital, which might have led, for example, to their death and consequently to them being regarded as a war victim.

However, the name of Johanna Maria Verspeek does not appear on the plaque at the memorial in Liessel, nor on the plaque in the porch of St Willibrord’s Church in Liessel.

*Due to the note designating her as a war victim in the death register below, she has nevertheless been included on this website.

View all persons in the category: Residents of Deurne who died outside Deurne