Remembering Joseph Koek, Holocaust Survivor
In 1930, Joseph Koekkoek was born in “The Hague”, the city where Dutch royalty once dwelt. “Joop,” as he was called, was the middle child and only boy, in a close- knit family of five. He had an older sister named Eva and a younger sister named Hendrieka, or “Henny”. Their loving and hard-working parents (Katrien and Philip) ran their respective businesses from their home and provided a warm and nurturing environment for their young children. The Koekkoek family lived a peaceful, uneventful life until 1940, when Joop was about 10 years old, and Germany invaded Holland. Joop and his sisters spent the next five years “in hiding”, where they were concealed and protected by kind and brave Christian families. When the war finally ended, he and his sisters emerged from hiding to discover that over 100 members of their family had been killed. Since those dark days, Joe triumphed over adversity by moving to the US, raising three loving sons, and living life to the fullest as a husband, father, grandfather and tailor. He spent his last years telling his story at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center and anywhere he was asked. Selflessly, he never said he was one of the last ones to tell the story. Instead, it was his audience that was most important – they were the last ones who would be able to hear it from someone who was there. Joseph Koek, who passed away on 27 December 2015 will always be remembered.
Joe Koek celebrating his birthday with sons (left to right) Steve, Phil and Kenn