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Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer (December 7, 1919 – November 25, 2011) was an American billionaire businessman who was the chairman of the
Meijer helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. An Honors College at Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park
Meijer
Meijer Inc. (, ; stylized as meijer) is an American supercenter chain that primarily operates throughout the Midwest. Its corporate headquarters are in Walker, Michigan, which is a part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Founded in 1934 ...
hypermarket
A hypermarket (sometimes called a hyperstore, supercentre or superstore) is a big-box store combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including ...
chain, headquartered near his former hometown in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...
.
Early life
Meijer was born inGreenville, Michigan
Greenville is a city in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,816 at the 2020 census.
History
Greenville is named after its founder, John Green, who settled in the wilderness of the southwest part of Montcalm Coun ...
, 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 grandsonPeter
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a su ...
became the U.S. representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district
Michigan's 3rd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in West Michigan. From 2003 to 2013, it consisted of the counties of Barry and Ionia, as well as all except the northwestern portion of Kent, including the city of Grand Rap ...
in 2021.
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
Meijer helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. An Honors College at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University (GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public university in Allendale, Michigan. It was established in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. Its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids. The universi ...
is named for him. A Chair in Dutch culture at Calvin College
Calvin University, formerly Calvin College, is a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed (Calvinist) ...
is also named for him. The Frederik Meijer Trail in Kent County, Michigan
Kent County is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the county had a population of 657,974, making it the fourth most populous county in Michigan, and the largest outside of the Detroit area. Its county seat is Grand ...
, and the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park are named after him following donations by the Frederik and Lena Meijer Foundation.Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor ...
References
Further reading
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Meijer, Frederik 1919 births 2011 deaths American billionaires American people of Dutch descent Businesspeople from Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Valley State University people Frederik People from Greenville, Michigan