Bernardus Johannes Antonius NIJHUIS                                                                         

Maria Anna PERIK

Historical Overview of Bernardus (Bernard) Nijhuis and Maria Anna Perik

Bernardus Nijhuis was born as the fourth child of Hendrikus Nijhuis and Maria Schoenmaker in the hospital in Enschede. Born prematurely, he spent his first days in an incubator. His childhood was spent in and around the family home on Grotestraat in Borne, directly opposite Kuipers’ butcher shop.

He attended elementary school at De Brink, which at the time was a joint Protestant-Catholic school. Later, he transferred to the Catholic school at De Nes (now St. Jacobusschool). Bernardus was not always present at school; he sometimes skipped classes to watch the local butcher at work. These early experiences foreshadowed his future career.

After primary school, he continued his education in Borne and eventually chose the trade of a butcher. His career began with Leushuis butcher shop on De Brink. Later he worked for a German butcher in Oldenzaal and then for Huiskes in Rijssen. When slager Morshuis, known as “De Plaat,” faced staff shortages, Bernardus returned to Borne to work there.

Around 1928, his father had a new house built on Oude Hengelosestraat in Borne. Before the family could move in, Bernardus’ mother passed away.

When he reached military age, Bernardus served as a cook in the army. After completing his service, he decided to establish himself as an independent butcher in Borne. In 1931–1932, the front room of the new house was converted into a butcher shop. Two years later, a slaughterhouse was built behind the house so Bernardus could process his own cattle. During this time, he met his future wife, Maria Anna Perik.

War Years and Post-War Period

When World War II broke out in 1940, Bernardus was arrested and sent to Germany, where he spent approximately one month in Camp Luckenwalde. During this period, Steven Hoogma from Steenwijk — later the father-in-law of Bernardus’ future son-in-law Frans Hoogma — was also interned there.

While Bernardus was away, Maria, with the help of Bernardus’ father, managed the butcher shop. After his return, Bernardus oversaw meat distribution in the Borne–Hengelo region and was responsible for emergency slaughtering, a role he continued for several years after the war.

On July 1, 1946, Bernardus and Maria were married. In the following years, the butcher shop flourished. Bernardus purchased cattle from local farmers and processed them himself. He became known for his craftsmanship and dedication, particularly for his homemade fresh sausages and hand-rolled pork and mutton roasts. Though deeply rooted in tradition, he embraced innovation, gradually delivering orders by bicycle, sled, moped, and eventually car. In 1967, he completely modernized the business to keep pace with the times.

During these years, Bernardus also pursued his passion for singing, performing with both the Gregorian church choir and the Small Choir.

Final Working Years and Retirement

In February 1974, Bernardus sold the butcher shop and moved with Maria to De Sanderij 13 in Delden. Unable to remain idle, he worked for several years at butcher Leo Lammertink in Hengelo.

Later, the couple moved to a retirement home at 42 Ranninkstraat in Delden. Bernardus felt at home there; known in the neighborhood as a friendly and cheerful man, he enjoyed daily walks with his little dog and chatting with everyone he met.

He developed leukemia and, after a short illness, passed away on February 26, 1990, just two days after his 79th birthday in Hengelo.

Maria Anna Perik

After Bernardus’ death, Maria remained at Ranninkstraat for several years, but her memory gradually declined, and she was diagnosed with dementia. In 1992, she moved to St. Joseph retirement home in Delden, where she lived for several more years in reasonable health. After a brief illness with pneumonia, she passed away on January 19, 1998.

Warmth and Hospitality

Bernardus and Maria were known as very social and welcoming people. In 1969, they opened their home without hesitation to their nephew Bernardus Wilhelmus Hendrikus and niece Angela Johanna Wilhelmina Maria — children of Bernardus’ brother Johannes Frederikus Antonius — who had come from Australia. They treated them as if they were their own children, a testament to their warmth and strong family values.

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