Frederik Meijer

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Not to be confused with Fred G. Meyer.
Frederik Meijer
Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer.jpg
Born
Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer

December 7, 1919
Greenville, Michigan, US
DiedNovember 25, 2011(2011-11-25) (aged 91)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
OccupationBusinessman
TitleChairman, Meijer
Spouse
Lena Rader
​
(m. 1946)​
ChildrenDoug Meijer
Hank Meijer
Mark Meijer
Parents

Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer (December 7, 1919 – November 25, 2011) was an American billionaire businessman who was the chairman of the Meijer hypermarket chain, headquartered near his former hometown in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[1]

Early life

Meijer was born in Greenville, Michigan,[1] the son of Gezina Mantel and Hendrik Meijer, Dutch immigrants who had married in Greenville in 1912.[2] In 1934, at age 14, he worked with his father Hendrik to found Meijer's North Side Grocery in Greenville.[1]

Career

In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping.[1] He inherited the company after the death of his father in 1964.[1] In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, Doug and Hank, although he remained the Chairman of the Board until his death.[1]

As of September 2011, he was worth US$5 billion.[1] He was the 60th richest person in the United States at the time of his death.[1][3]

Personal life

In 1946, he married Lena Rader (1919–2022), the daughter of farmers, who had been a cashier in one of his stores.[2] They had three sons, Doug, Hank and Mark Meijer.[4] His grandson Peter became the U.S. representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district in 2021.[5]

Meijer died on November 25, 2011 at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home.[6] His wife Lena died at 102 years old on January 15, 2022.[7]

Legacy

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids Charter Township, Michigan

Meijer helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.[8] An Honors College at Grand Valley State University is named for him.[9] A Chair in Dutch culture at Calvin College is also named for him.[10] The Frederik Meijer Trail in Kent County, Michigan, and the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park are named after him following donations by the Frederik and Lena Meijer Foundation.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Frederik G.H. Meijer". Forbes.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  2. ^ a b "Meijer, Fred and Lena | Learning to Give". Archived from the original on 2017-03-25. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  3. ^ "Forbes 400 2016". Forbes.com. 2016-09-28. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  4. ^ Carmichael, Michael (2009-08-20). "Meijer at 75 – Lessons from a family that has learned to work together over three generations. – Corp! Magazine". Corpmagazine.com. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  5. ^ "Michigan Election Results: Third Congressional District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  6. ^ Ed Riojas Illustration (26 November 2011). "Fred Meijer, West Michigan billionaire grocery magnate, dies at 91". MLive.com. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  7. ^ Malec, Jerry. "Wife of retail giant Frederik Meijer, Lena Meijer dies at 102".
  8. ^ "About". Meijer Gardens. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  9. ^ "Frederik Meijer Honors College – Grand Valley State University". Gvsu.edu. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  10. ^ "Frederik Meijer Chair – Dutch – Calvin College". Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  11. ^ King, Kyla & Wilson, Rick (December 6, 2006). "Bike Trail Planned near South Beltline on Track". The Grand Rapids Press. p. B1.
  12. ^ Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Further reading

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