Anton Schaars

Antonius (Anton) Johannes Schaars (5 June 1887, in Deventer – 4 February 1963, in Deventer) was a Dutch Roman Catholic priest who helped rescue members of the Allied forces during World War II.

Early life Schaars was born in Deventer in 1887. He followed his secondary education at the Canisius College in Nijmegen before studying at the minor seminary in Culemborg and the major seminary in Rijsenburg. In August 1910 he was ordained priest by archbishop Henricus van de Wetering of Utrecht.

He worked as curate in Ameland, Hengelo, Heino, Arnhem and Zeist. After which he worked for 10 years as parson in Doornik, where he helped found a catholic primary school. In 1937 Schaars was appointed parson in Velp.

Later life Schaars would continue his work as parson in Velp until his retirement in 1956. He died in 1963 and was originally buried at the Heiderust cemetery in Rheden. In 2016 he was reburied at the Bergweg cemetery in Velp.

Legacy

After the war in 1950 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur and Croix de guerre by France.

At his retirement as parson of Velp he was offered the honorary medal in silver of the municipality of Rheden. The street Pastoor Schaarsstraat (English: Pastor Schaars street) in Velp is named after him.

Two photographs of his return to Velp, and being welcomed by Dutch Reformed Church minister Adriaan Oskamp, are part of two windows of the Protestant church Waterstaatskerk in Velp.

Literature