When they married, Gerardus was 55 years of age and Lukina was 28 years of age. He was rich and she was young, although also from a well to do family. Gerardus and Lukina settled in Rotterdam when he became ill. The marriage lasted only 11 years, when he passed away from cancer. She was then 38. They had five sons.
This picture was taken at the 25th wedding anniversary of the couple De Groot - Hukema, in the 1940s. In the front row from the left (sitting) are four sisters : Klazina Prins - Hukema, Grietje Schimmel - Hukema, (the bridgroom Cor De Groot) Jansje De Groot - Hukema and Lukina Van Doodewaard - Hukema, my grandmother. My parents are also in the picture, Anne Van Doodewaard (straight behind the bridegroom on the very top row) (first from the left with a white shirt and tie), and my mother Plonia Van Doodewaard - Jansen straight below him.
Here is a picture of the first four children around 1950.
During the war several children were born, Lukina (Ina) May 9, 1941, right on this picture, and Christiaan Andries (Chris) April 25, 1942. Dad is looking a little thin and pale, probably because he was living "underground". (see story on main website)
Anne Antoon Johannes Van Doodewaard married Plonia Jansen on August 30, 1939 in Rotterdam.
