Photo taken on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. further examples oftheir consistent investment in the lives of Grand Lena Meijer, the wife of the late grocery chain co-founder Frederik Meijer, died Saturday. Longtime friends of the Meijer Family, the DeVos Family also paid tribute. Over the years, I had occasion to see them often there and even helped Lena decorate a Christmas tree once. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com), Fred Meijer, left, looks on as Lena Meijer, right, cuts one of the ribbons signifying the opening of the new outdoor amphitheater at Frederik Meijer Gardens in 2003. Campus in Holland, built on land they gave to the university. Lena Meijer, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, spouse and partner of the late retailing entrepreneur Fred Meijer, died January 15, 2022 at the age of 102. Our mothers burned up the phone lines too with lots to discuss-including the ostrich eggs they both decorated. The Frederik Meijer Highlights Top Back to Page Nav. Lena Rader Meijer, longtime member of the Meijer Board of Directors and wife of Fred Meijer, has passed at the age of 102. In the natural world, she developed a special fondness for penguins, amassing a collection of penguin-related items in all shapes and sizes. Fred and Lena would give Ice Cream Gift cards. She will be greatly missed.. They gave land to Grand Valley State University that would eventually become the school's Meijer campus in Holland and established multiple scholarships at the university. The MLive article quote the Meijer family attorney who stated that lena Meijer preferred to remain in the background, and to council members of her family. From the couples first trip to Europeand her first airplane ridein 1950 to worldwide travel in their later years, Lena found herself embarked on adventures she could not have imagined as a child attending a one-room schoolhouse in central Michigan. Lena Meijer was by her husbands side as the Meijer company grew from a single store into a retail giant. Your mom was a wonderful lady, and I dearly loved her. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Lena Rader Meijer, longtime member of the Meijer Board of Directors and wife of Fred Meijer, has passed at the age of 102. Even more, she cherished the company of her family, of her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews and cousins. GOD Bless you all. It was already viewed Your mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother chatted with me the entire time. "Grandma Lena was the warmest grandmother a grandson could ask for," said Rep. Peter Meijer, her grandson, in a tweet. She was 102. We hold Lena close to our hearts as we celebrate her full life and feel deep gratitude for the truly remarkable contributions she and her late husband, Fred, made to our community. Linda and I fondly remember Lena and Fred dropping in to see us in Ocala on their way to my folk's home in Jupiter. stations to move into state-of-the-art studios in downtown Grand Great memories. What a pleasure it was to know Lena. Located in Grand Rapids in western Michigan, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a 158-acre combination botanical garden, outdoor sculpture park, and art museum. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. She and Fred delighted in welcoming visitors to the Gardens, including and especially children to her namesake Childrens Garden. Rapids, McLogan said. Lena and Fred both were so genuine and kind and they will be sorely missed. with their generous gift for the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Hank, Doug, Mark, and family. Our condolences to the whole family. See They moved to Grand Rapids in 1951, and she worked in the business until her eldest son, Hank, was born in 1952. Who's Searching for You, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors & Classmates, See all testimonies from people that know Lena. Lena Meijer is fondly remembered for the monetary contributions she and her family have made over the years, but there is no honest discussion or investigation into how the Meijer family became billionaires. Although it took just over an hour to plant the tree I cant remember a nicer client over the years I worked landscaping while in collegeit felt like I was have a conversation with my grandmother. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Sorry to hear of Your Moms Death. The next day they came in and asked my manager to see me. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Frederik Meijer also funded trails in the areaand the two donated art to theGrand Rapids Art Museum. MyLife aggregates publicly available information from government, social, and other sources, plus personal reviews written by others. 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It has been just over a week now that Lena Meijer, the wife of Fred Meijer, passed away. She was 102. The Meijers are also remembered for their philanthropic endeavors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lena's name may be made to the Lena Meijer Children's Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. The daughter of German immigrants, Lena Meijer was born in 1919 and raised on her family's farm near Lakeview, Michigan,according toRemembering Lena Meijer, awebsite honoring her memory. Her gracious, giving spirit and dedication to her family, our company and our community were beyond measure and appreciated by many. Lena GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Lena Meijer, member of the Meijer Board of Directors and wife of Frederik Meijer, died Saturday at the age of 102. WebBuilt in 1994, the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., is just one example of how an architect can leave a legacy by designing with galvanized steel. Lena had a long-standing relationship with Spectrum Health. 1 Campus Drive They were truly good, lovely people and I will miss them greatly. She graduated from Lakeview High School in 1937 and got a job at a Lakeview bank as a teller and bookkeeper. view. She had a warm and giving spirit, that was evident from the moment she walked in any room. In lieu of flowers, the website says memorial contributions in Lenas name can be made to the Lena Meijer Childrens Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred, in 2011. (Neil Blake | MLive.com) Neil Blake | MLive, Fred and Lena Meijer gets a lift by a tram at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in 2003. Lets take the Meijer Family. (The Grand Rapids Press/Paul L. Newby II), Lena Meijer poses in front of a replica of her childhood home, at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in 2003 (MLive file photo by Dave Raczkowski), A sculpture of Fred and Lena Meijer sits on a bench at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. When Spectrum Health began a $30 million fund drive for a proposed heart center, Fred and Lena Meijer became the lead donors. I remember Fred very well, Doug was a lines mgr. (The Grand Rapids Press/Paul L. Newby II), Lena Meijer shares a moment with her granddaughter as they await the arrival of the Dutch King and Queen outside of Frederik Meijer Gardens on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. They do this because they do not want the public to think about how they became so rich and powerful. 1 (616) 331-2221 We had our mother save all the packages and empty cartons and we would set up a little grocery store in the corn crib, she said. It has been just over a week now that Lena Meijer, the wife of Fred Meijer, passed away. We know that Lena is married at this point. A private family ceremony is planned. People dont get rich because they are hard workers, they get rich by exploiting people and resources. Courtesy photo. There was a group from the store that was going to Edmore and she was working in the office part time and some of the girls said to her, You ask Fred,' he said. It was something he often joked about. Stewards of the university,recognizing their lifetime contributions Lena Meijer was by her husbands side as the Meijer company grew from a single store into a retail giant. This may contain information such as company name, job title, address, and time period of service. She always enjoyed the friendship of her neighbors, from the house on Meadowfield Drive NE where they raised their sons, to the apartment at Cook Valley Estates, where they moved in 2004. Post or read reviews for Lena Meijer Lena was a woman of great kindness, compassion and generosity. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Manywill remember Meijer for her philanthropicwork, which regularly featuredher personal interests. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Grand Valley and West Michigan are remembering Lena Meijer, who died on January 15. "Her impact on the lives of students will be remembered for generations to come.. My condolences to this average like the rest of us family, what wonderful giving people they are. It was a pleasure for me to work for your family business from 10th grade until I retired. The Michigan native and member of the Meijer Board of Directors was born in Lakeview in 1919 and graduated from Lakeview Highschool in 1937. Meijer, Lena 5/14/1919 - 1/15/2022 Lena Meijer, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, spouse and partner of the late retailing entrepreneur Fred Meijer, died January 15, 2022 at the age of 102. Lena Meijer, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, spouse and partner of the late retailing entrepreneur Fred Meijer, died January 15, 2022 To my former next door neighbor, Mark, my deepest sympathy. of their gift. On the website Remembering Lena Meijer, the Meijer family said it would like to thank all those who helped with Lenas care in the home, with her transportation and with other assistance.. We played "store" using the corn rib; Lena was always the store keeper and I was the shopper. WebMiller Johnson joins in celebrating the life of Lena Meijer, a longtime supporter of the Grand Rapids community and friend to innumerable organizations throughout Michigan and beyond. Lena moved to Greenville, Michigan in 1940, where she was hired by Hendrik Meijer as a cashier in the original Meijer supermarket. Sorry Hank we never met. to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. on January 15. * The other websites referenced on this site are owned and operated by their respective companies, and the associated trademarks and logos are the property of those companies. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I will also ask you to extend my sympathies to the rest of your family. She invited me to a first dance. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Lena Meijer, the wife of the late grocery chain co-founder Frederik Meijer, died Saturday.

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