From 1908 to 1942, Heiman Leefsma was chazzan (cantor) at the Jewish community in Hengelo; he was also their religious teacher. When he took office in 1908, the Jewish community in Hengelo consisted of 48 families; at Heiman’s 25th anniversary as cantor, which was also the 50th anniversary of the synagogue, the congregation consisted of 240 people from 73 families. In his memory a street is named after Heiman Leefsma in the city of Hengelo: the "H. Leefsmastraat".
Heiman Leefsma was married to Sara Hillesum, who died in 1938. Heiman and Sara had five daughters. Three daughters survived the war. Their daughter Elize and her family were killed in Auschwitz, Elize's twin sister Jetty was killed in Sobibor.
Heiman Leefsma remarried in November 1940 to Johanna Geertruida Zwarenstein. In 1943, Heiman Leefsma left for Amsterdam with his second wife Johanna, where a son, Benjamin Mozes, was born. The family lived at the President Steijnstraat 9 in Amsterdam. They were transported via Westerbork to Sobibor (transport 20-7-43), where they were murdered on July 23,1943. At their last address in Hengelo, Deldenerstraat 68, three stolpersteine (stumbling stones) were placed for Heiman, Johanna, and baby Benjamin Mozes.
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