GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Lena Meijer, member of the Meijer Board of Directors and wife of Frederik Meijer, died Saturday at the age of 102. Loved working for the company in many different jobs in the stores as well as in the office. She will be greatly missed.. Her love of gardens, including her own rose garden at their longtime home on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, helped inspire her and her husbands commitment to create the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lena Meijer Children's Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. What information about Lena are you looking for? (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. "Grandma Lena was the warmest grandmother a grandson could ask for," said Rep. Peter Meijer, her grandson, in a tweet. below. No, she chose to not question how her sons wealth went from $10.2 Billion at the beginning of the pandemic, to $16.9 Billion after the first 18 months of the pandemic. She was always friendly and a very positive person. Condolences to the Meijer family on this loss. one of the individuals who helped establish Grand Valley and grow it GVSU also released a statement that wants us all to believe that Lena Meijer made an impact on the lives of students. They were both recognized as part of GVSU's Hall of Fame as "Grand Stewards" of the university, "recognizing their lifetime contributions to the university and the West Michigan community," the school said in a post honoring her. In a statement, her son Hank Meijer, executive chairman of Meijer, said, The blessings of a long and fruitful life outweigh the sorrow with the passing of our mom, Lena Meijer. The Childrens Garden is not only entertaining but also educational. A private family ceremony is planned. Lena Meijer Obituary (1919 - 2022) - Grand Rapids Press She is survived by sons Hank (Liesel), Doug and Mark (Mary Beth), grandchildren Haley, Peter (Gabriella), Hanna (Alex), Cali, Hardy, Kendall and Mary Grace, and great-grandchildren Dresden, Lena, Olivia and Brooklyn. According to a website set up in her honor, Meijer was born to German immigrants George Rader and Mary Lutterloh Rader on a family farm near Lakeview. The couple moved to Grand Rapids in 1951 and Lena continued to work in the business until the birth in 1952 of the first of three sons. government sources. Lena Meijer attends the groundbreaking for the Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids on Monday, June 26, 2017. Lena was very active in the Grand Rapids Public Schools, volunteering frequently as a member of the Aberdeen School PTA, as well as serving in other civic roles and volunteering at school functions from paper drives to cake walks. She is survived by her three sons, who help run the family business, and several grandchildren. Lena and Fred Meijer sit next to a statue of Fred at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Lena Meijer, the wife of the late grocery chain co-founder Frederik Meijer, died Saturday. WebLena 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 This third-party data is then indexed through methods similar to those used by Google or Bing to create a listing. "Her impact on the lives of students will If we dont stop worshipping members of the Capitalist Class, like Lena Meijer, not much will change. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. I was fortunate enough to have met Fred and Lena at store 50 in Cascade when I was closing the deli. It was a pleasure meeting you and Lena." Lena was the constant presence at Freds side.. It was there that she met Fred Meijer, the grocers son. Lena and Fred Meijer were wed in 1946. They were married in 1946. She was 102. Lena Meijer supporting education and the West Michigan community. Fred Meijer told News 8 in 2003 that he was initially nervous about dating someone from the store, so it was Lena who made the first move. I turn 101 on May 27th this year-our birthdays were just two weeks apart. Lena lived generously and her legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched.. Lena Meijer, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, spouse and partner of the late retailing entrepreneur Fred Meijer, died January 15, 2022 Her involvement with the business continued until the birth of the first of their three sons, Hank, Doug and Mark, in 1952. I told him it was not a problem and that was what I was there for and that I didn't mind at all. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. On top of that, most of the items that are sold in Meijer stores travel thousands of miles, thus relying heavily on the burning of fossil fuels, which have contributed significantly to Climate Change. Once again, the local news media had nothing but positive and glowing commentary about someone who was part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Rapids, McLogan said. They Our summers were spent in Tamarack Creek; the woolen suits rarely dried out before we put them back on jumped back into the water. Lena Meijer was by her husbands side as the Meijer company grew from a single store into a retail giant. I extend my deepest sympathy to Hank, Doug, Mark and the rest of the Meijer family. Grand Valley celebrates the life of Lena Meijer - GVNext 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. One of Lena Meijers biggest legacies may be Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. I was always impressed that they could remember my name (and other details, such as my hubby being a deputy and that we had two kids), even through they must have met hundreds of people every year. The organizations she helped over her lifetime paid tribute to include Spectrum Health who issued the following statement. Fred shook my hand and said " Lisa I was very impressed with the service you gave us last night and I just wanted to give you a coupon for a free soda" I told him "Well it was a pleasure and you really don't have to get me a coke. She then dedicated herself to their family. It was at the Meijer Thrift Market in Greenville she met her husband, Fred Meijer, who ran the store alongside his father. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Valley students. Your mom was a wonderful lady and I dearly loved her. 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. Aquinas College joins the West Michigan community and beyond in mourning the loss of Lena Meijer. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. She had a warm and giving spirit, that was evident from the moment she walked in any room. I give them a "hello" and it always brings a smile to my face to see them. Relations, recalled the impact of their support. 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. Meijer helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. The two married and moved to Grand Rapidswhere she supported the growth of her husband's grocery businessand became deeply involved as a volunteer with the local parent-teacher association. Lena Meijer is survived by her three sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If you clock it, knock off half for her half.. Praying for God's comfort and strength in the coming days, and that His peace will abide in you. In later years, your folks always made sure to visit mine several times a year. My sincere condolences, and prayers for Hank, Doug, and the entire Meijer family. in Always a pleasure to see her at the office, stores and events. Look at Frederik Meijer Gardens 20 Years GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WKZO AM/FM) An icon of the Meijer retail store brand has died. The Foundation team has been instrumental in the capital campaigns for Spectrum Healths Renucci Hospitality House, Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center, Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion and Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, as well as the creation and advancement of countless programs that impact patients, their families and Lena and her husband, Frederik (Fred), were passionate Beautiful memories!! Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The comments from the DeVos Family are completely expected, since this is one family within the Grand Rapids Power Structure speaking well of another member of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. I never met the Meijer's , but remember them behind my lane. She was also an enthusiastic partner of her husband as the Meijer retail business grew, attending store openings and team member awards dinners, taking Sunday drives to visit stores and making lifelong friends at food industry conferences. My mother and I were talking about the times we met Mrs. Meijer. Great memories. She was proceeded in death by her husband, who died in November 2011 at the age of 91. Then, one day, she got an unexpected phone call from Hendrik Meijer, who said some of the workers at his store knew Lena and had suggested he hire her. universitys expansion over the years, including Grand Valleys Meijer The Meijer gift enabled the universitys television and radio She had a warm and giving spirit, that was evident from the moment she walked in any room. She was the daughter of German immigrants George Rader and Mary Lutterloh Rader. They made their decisions on the family obviously together but they also made business decisions together, former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell said. When she moved to Greenville, Michigan, in 1940, she was hired as a cashier at the original Meijer supermarket where she met Frederik Meijer. The Michigan native and member of the Meijer Board of Directors was born in Lena and her husband, Frederik (Fred), were passionate about We retired to the U.P. Lena Meijer was a quiet force of nature in our community and we are sad to learn of her passing. She invited me to a first dance. For many years she decorated the German Christmas tree as a volunteer at the Gardens. I was a cashier that started at the Norton Shores store. Lena and Fred both were so genuine and kind and they will be sorely missed. We are grateful that she is at peace after a long, full, and impactful life," her grandson U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, wrote in a tweet. (MLive file photo by Anna Moore Butzner), Lori Niedenfuer Cool / The Grand Rapids Press, Lena and Fred Meijer at the 1997 Frederik Meijer Gardens honor ceremony. Instead of celebrating the bullshit charity of the billionaire class, lets organize to redistribute the wealth of members of the Capitalist Class, like the Meijer family. She was also an enthusiastic partner of her husband as the Meijer retail business grew, attending store openings and team member awards dinners, taking Sunday drives to visit stores and making lifelong friends at food industry conferences. Lena was so sweet and would give me a hug & a kiss on the cheek each time we met. They alsohelped lead the capital campaign for what would becomethe Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. and Mark started the Life ambulance company and would come in the store and chat with me often while I worked nights in the bakery. 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. She also excelled at sports and was one of the few girls the boys would allow to play baseball with them. Once again, the local news media had nothing but positive and glowing 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. We smile as we think of Lenas love of flowers and how the Meijer Gardens shares that passion with so many others. Your mom and my dad were first cousins, and I can remember as a little girl going to Greenville, when they still lived there, to celebrate their birthdays. 1 Campus Drive The Frederik Meijer Visitors can also see the Lena Meijer Childrens Garden and a replica of her family farm in Amble, complete with a barn and the original windmill from the farm. See The world lost a very down-to-earth lady with a big heart. 2372 times Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. She was 102. She was a friend and partner to our parents / grandparents, as she was to us, and a steadfast supporter of her husband, her family and all of West Michigan. Grand Rapids, MI. People like her and the Meijer family are rare indeed. The Meijers had three sons, Doug, Hankand Mark. Mrs. Meijer was the true epitome of a woman, wife and mother. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. and support to help create the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, including the to the university and the West Michigan community. Is Lena Meijer alive? provided the leadership to help establish the WGVU Meijer Public This is a family business that made their wealth by exploiting the workers in their stores, by benefiting from the exploitation of the workers in an unjust food system farmworkers, for example and by not having to pay for the consequences of benefitting from an unsustainable and exploitative retail system. Lena Meijer meant so much to so many, it is nearly impossible to measure her impact [] But this is the con. Lena Meijer, matriarch of Meijer family and philanthropist, dies at 102 Hayley Harding The Detroit News View Comments 0:00 0:53 Lena Meijer, noted philanthropist The park combines Frederik Meijers love of sculptures with his wife Lenas love of Sorry to hear of Your Moms Death. We extend our sympathies at the loss of your family matriarch. The gardens, which opened in 1995, feature rare and exotic plants and outdoor paths leading to sculptures by well-known artists. The Meijer name on the She cherished memories of camel rides and hot-air balloon flights, golf tournaments and cycling trips. A private ceremony for the family is planned. Yet she also presided over a bustling household, cooking dinner for the family most every evening. of this special opportunity to study and learn while serving listeners 1 (616) 331-2221 She is remembered as a loving wife, mother, Manywill remember Meijer for her philanthropicwork, which regularly featuredher personal interests. Around 30 years ago I worked for a local landscape company and was assigned to plant a tree at the Meijers home on Kent Country Club. 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. Celebrating The Life Of Richard M. DeVos Center and the L. William Seidman Center. She was the wife of Fred Meijer, the son of the founder of the Meijer grocery store chain. WebMeijer died on November 25, 2011, at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home. Grand Rapids, MI, is where Lena Meijer lives today. She cherished memories of camel rides and hot-air balloon flights, golf tournaments and cycling trips. She often volunteered to decorate the German Christmas tree at the gardens. for Lena Meijer Lena Meijer, the wife of Frederik Meijer, passed away on Saturday, January 15. She passed away on Saturday, at the age of 102. Meijer Lenas impact is felt through a wide range of programs and projects Lena Meijer died Saturday, Jan. 15, at the age of 102. The local news media did the same thing about Fred Meijer, when he passed away in 2011. WebThe use of robotically-assisted minimally invasive surgery at Spectrum Health has expanded to treat patients with cardiovascular disease at the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. Who's Searching for You, Look Your Best to People Searching for You. 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 Meijer died on Saturday, January 15th at the age of 102. is lena meijer to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. We helped with the haying.. MyLife aggregates publicly available information from government, social, and other sources, plus personal reviews written by others. She's photographed here on Feb. 9, 2005 in front of "The Kiss" by Auguste Rodin at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Adam Bird), Fred and Lena Meijer takes a tour of the Michigan Farm Garden at Federik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in 2003. to see possible education history including where and when they attending high school and college, and a complete list of her high school class list. She was a friend and partner to our parents / grandparents, as she was to us, and a steadfast supporter of her husband, her family and all of West Michigan. 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 was born May 14, 1919 on the family farm near Lakeview, Michigan. She was the daughter of German immigrants George Rader and Mary Lutterloh Rader. Spectrum Health Her gracious, giving spirit and dedication to her family, our company and our community were beyond measure and appreciated by many. Such a sincere and gracious couple, we are so lucky to have had some time with them in our lives. If youre shopping for a new purse, check out these luxurious bags that look quite high-end, but cost less than $100. For many years she decorated the German Christmas tree as a volunteer at the Gardens. (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. They do this because they do not want the public to think about how they became so rich and powerful. Lena also answers to Lena E Meijer, Lena Elizabeth Meijer and Lena E S Meijer, and perhaps a couple of other names. She is remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother,great-grandmother and partner to Frederik Meijer as he built up the grocery store chain. Meidert, Beatrice - Mejia Benitez, Darwin. Love, hugs and prayers to the family. Your mother was the perfect compliment to your father and on the many occasions I had the chance to talk with them it was evident they loved your families as well as the Business. My deepest sympathy to you, Hank, Doug, Mark and your families. WebDoug and Hank Meijer's tribute to their mom. Our deepest sympathy to Hank, Doug, Mark and their families. Generations of students have taken advantage to see possibly who they are and full class lists found from school records and public sources. Your parents have left a great legacy and are now re-united in heaven. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. People dont get rich because they are hard workers, they get rich by exploiting people and resources. Grand Valley and West Michigan are remembering Lena Meijer, who died on January 15. I miss Fred and Lena so much! Despite being among the richest people in the country, the Meijers lived modestly and gave generously to countless organizations and projects in the community, including the renovated Grand Rapids Civic Theatre in 2006. May the memories of your happy times with a remarkable lady comfort you as you grieve her passing. As a child, she said, she would climb that windmill and eat her lunch up there. Re-Thinking the Life of Lena Meijer and her Billionaire Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. We worked in the fields during the day planting corn by hand we didnt have a corn planter planting potatoes by hand, she recalled during an interview in May 2003. of their gift. 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 Rader Meijer dies at 102 - WZZM13.com Lena Meijer, the wife of Frederik Meijer, passed away on Saturday, January 15. It was there that she met Fred Meijer, the grocer's son. (AP Photo/Adam Bird). GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Lena Meijer, the devoted wife and mother who was there every step of the way as her husband turned a small grocery store into a retail staple in the Midwest, has died. Lena was born May 14, 1919 on the family farm near Lakeview, Michigan. Lena will be remembered as 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.
