Gerardus Antonius VERSTEEG

He was born in Nederhorst den Berg. Attended elementary school there, went to trade school in Hilversum for carpentry. Worked for one trip ona fishing boat in the North Sea at Dogger Bank and nearly drowned. He was working as a carpenter with Doedens and Schilder. After that, went to the South, to Eindhoven, to work as a concrete frame carpenter for Hollandsche Betonmaatschappij at the new Philips manufacturing plants. While working there got acquainted with Regina Stoker and married her. Henk was the first born. In 1938 they moved to the town of Dordrecht, Bilderdijkstraat 55, were Gerardus was made foreman and they were engagedthere to build approaches to a bridge, crossing the River Merwede. Thattook a year. When finished they moved to the town of Deventer at the end of 1939. They lived on the Rielerweg 144. Mobilisation of the army was in progress, anticipating a war. Gerardus built as foreman under a supervisor grain silos, then started working as supervisor on concrete strongboxes along the River IJssel, facing Germany.

On finishing this project he was directed to the town of Rhenen were hebuilt water fortifications. The Netherlands were invaded by Germany on10 May 1940. That night Gerardus returned from the west and went by rowing boat at night across the river, since all the bridges had been blown up by the Dutch army. The Dutch were still that night in possessionof the other side of the river across town. During the war Gerardus wasworking all over the country. During the landings at Arnhem (OperationMarket Garden, depicted in the movie 'A Bridge Too Far') he was working there and was again forced to come home. The last winter Gerardus andHenk were forced by the Germans to dig trenches (Organisation Todt). The identity card is prove of that through the German eagle seal on thatcard. Henk lost his card. The stamkaart (rations card as it is calledis in the files, entitled one to rations of food. Without one, one gotnothing.

In 1949 they moved back to Einhoven were Gerardus helped rebuild the war damaged Philips plants, now as head supervisor for HBM. Throughout the remaining years he built many a building in Eindhoven, such as a newCity Hall, Post Office, St Catherine's Hospital, etc. Upon his retirement in 1969, he was decorated with the Order of Orange by the HM the Queen of the Netherlands and the Golden Medal from the Chamber of Commerce. They then left on a world cruise to visit Henk, who had emigrated toCA and Hilly, who had emigrated to New Zealand. Several times they went back to New Zealand, where they found the climate more agreeable. Inaccordance with his wishes on his sickbed the life saving machines wereturned off and at the moment of his death Henk said Good Bye to him with all his brothers and sisters at Gerardus' bedside, except for Hilly,who was with mother at home.

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