Simon Jonas Nijveen was married to Froukje Naiwitter. The couple had two daughters: Rika and Rosa. The family lived on the Schaapstreek in Drouwen. Froukje died in 1901. In 1943 Simon Jonas Nijveen married Eva Leezer.
Simon Jonas Nijveen was a butcher and skinner. In and around Borger he was known as Aol Jonas. Because he often traded in Buinen, people used to joke that if Buinen did not exist, neither would Aol Jonas.
Rosa (known as Roos) was mentally challenged. She sold wares from door to door and earned a bit of money in the autumn scraping potatoes. In Drouwen she was called Jeuden Roos. Roos knew all the villagers' dates of birth and stopped by to congratulate all of them on their birthdays.
In 1941 Eva Leezer died of natural causes. Simon Jonas, nearly 84, and Rosa remained in Drouwen. Even when the other Jews were ordered to go to Westerbork on 2 October 1942, father and daughter stayed in the village. GP Duursma certified that old Simon Jonas was not fit to travel. In early 1943 they left for Westerbork voluntarily and were deported to Sobibor.
G. Hebels and G. Hoiting-Hebels, ’Roos oet Drouwen‘, in: Oorlogssporen. Historische vereniging Caspel Oderen (Oud Borger 2000) 41-43
In addition, a Jokos file (number 54753) on this family is at the Amsterdam Municipal Archive. Access is subject to authorization from the Stichting Joods Maatschappelijk Werk.