Misplaced Pages

Frederik Meijer

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

American businessman Not to be confused with Fred G. Meyer.
Frederik Meijer
BornFrederik 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 "Fred" 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.

Early life

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

Career

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

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

Personal life

In 1946, he married Lena Rader (1919–2022), the daughter of farmers, who had been a cashier in one of his stores. They had three sons, Doug, Hank and Mark Meijer. His grandson Peter was the U.S. representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district from 2021 to 2023. Meijer died on November 25, 2011, at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home. His wife Lena died at 102 years old on January 15, 2022.

Legacy

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

Meijer helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. An Honors College at Grand Valley State University is named for him. A Chair in Dutch culture at Calvin University is also named for him. 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.

References

  1. ^ "Frederik G.H. Meijer". Forbes.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  2. ^ "Meijer, Fred and Lena | Learning to Give". Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  3. "Forbes 400 2016". Forbes.com. September 28, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  4. Carmichael, Michael (August 20, 2009). "Meijer at 75 – Lessons from a family that has learned to work together over three generations. – Corp! Magazine". Corpmagazine.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  5. "Michigan Election Results: Third Congressional District". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  6. Ed Riojas Illustration (November 26, 2011). "Fred Meijer, West Michigan billionaire grocery magnate, dies at 91". MLive.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  7. Malec, Jerry. "Wife of retail giant Frederik Meijer, Lena Meijer dies at 102".
  8. "About". Meijer Gardens. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  9. "Frederik Meijer Honors College – Grand Valley State University". Gvsu.edu. January 27, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  10. "Frederik Meijer Chair – Dutch – Calvin College". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  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

Meijer
People
Related places
Related organizations
Categories: