Frederik Meijer: Difference between revisions
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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]] [[hypermarket]] chain, headquartered near his former hometown in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]].<ref name="forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/frederik-gh-meijer/ |title=Frederik G.H. Meijer |website=Forbes.com |date= |
'''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]].<ref name="forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/frederik-gh-meijer/ |title=Frederik G.H. Meijer |website=Forbes.com |date= |access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Meijer was born in [[Greenville, Michigan]],<ref name="forbes"/> the son of Gezina Mantel and [[Hendrik Meijer]], Dutch immigrants who had married in Greenville in 1912.<ref name="learningtogive1">{{cite web |url=https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/meijer-fred-and-lena |title= |
Meijer was born in [[Greenville, Michigan]],<ref name="forbes"/> the son of Gezina Mantel and [[Hendrik Meijer]], Dutch immigrants who had married in Greenville in 1912.<ref name="learningtogive1">{{cite web |url=https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/meijer-fred-and-lena |title=Meijer, Fred and Lena | Learning to Give |access-date=March 24, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325025046/https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/meijer-fred-and-lena |archive-date=March 25, 2017 }}</ref> In 1934, at age 14, he worked with his father Hendrik to found Meijer's North Side Grocery in Greenville.<ref name="forbes"/> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping.<ref name="forbes"/> He inherited the company after the death of his father in 1964.<ref name="forbes"/> In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, [[Doug Meijer|Doug]] and [[Hank Meijer|Hank]], although he remained the |
In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping.<ref name="forbes"/> He inherited the company after the death of his father in 1964.<ref name="forbes"/> In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, [[Doug Meijer|Doug]] and [[Hank Meijer|Hank]], although he remained the chairman of the board until his death.<ref name="forbes"/> |
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As of September 2011, he was worth US$5 billion.<ref name="forbes"/> He was the 60th richest person in the United States at the time of his death.<ref name="forbes"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/#p_7_s_arank_All%20industries_All%20states_All%20categories_ |title=Forbes 400 2016 |website=Forbes.com |date= |
As of September 2011, he was worth US$5 billion.<ref name="forbes"/> He was the 60th richest person in the United States at the time of his death.<ref name="forbes"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/#p_7_s_arank_All%20industries_All%20states_All%20categories_ |title=Forbes 400 2016 |website=Forbes.com |date=September 28, 2016 |access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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In 1946, he married Lena Rader (1919–2022), the daughter of farmers, who had been a cashier in one of his stores.<ref name="learningtogive1"/> They had three sons, [[Doug Meijer|Doug]], [[Hank Meijer|Hank]] and Mark Meijer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carmichael |first=Michael |url=https://www.corpmagazine.com/features/cover-stories/meijer-at-75-lessons-from-a-family-that-has-learned-to-work-together-over-three-generations/ |title=Meijer at 75 – Lessons from a family that has learned to work together over three generations. – Corp! Magazine |website=Corpmagazine.com |date= |
In 1946, he married Lena Rader (1919–2022), the daughter of farmers, who had been a cashier in one of his stores.<ref name="learningtogive1"/> They had three sons, [[Doug Meijer|Doug]], [[Hank Meijer|Hank]] and Mark Meijer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carmichael |first=Michael |url=https://www.corpmagazine.com/features/cover-stories/meijer-at-75-lessons-from-a-family-that-has-learned-to-work-together-over-three-generations/ |title=Meijer at 75 – Lessons from a family that has learned to work together over three generations. – Corp! Magazine |website=Corpmagazine.com |date=August 20, 2009 |access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> His grandson [[Peter Meijer|Peter]] was the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for [[Michigan's 3rd congressional district]] from 2021 to 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Michigan Election Results: Third Congressional District|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-michigan-house-district-3.html|access-date=November 4, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Meijer died on November 25, 2011, at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ed Riojas Illustration |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/11/west_michigan_grocery_magnate.html |title=Fred Meijer, West Michigan billionaire grocery magnate, dies at 91 |website=MLive.com |date=November 26, 2011 |access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> |
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Meijer died on November 25, 2011 at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ed Riojas Illustration |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/11/west_michigan_grocery_magnate.html |title=Fred Meijer, West Michigan billionaire grocery magnate, dies at 91 |website=MLive.com |date=26 November 2011 |access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref> |
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His wife Lena died at 102 years old on January 15, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtvbam.com/2022/01/16/wife-of-retail-giant-frederik-meijer-lena-meijer-dies-at-102/|title=Wife of retail giant Frederik Meijer, Lena Meijer dies at 102|first=Jerry|last=Malec}}</ref> |
His wife Lena died at 102 years old on January 15, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtvbam.com/2022/01/16/wife-of-retail-giant-frederik-meijer-lena-meijer-dies-at-102/|title=Wife of retail giant Frederik Meijer, Lena Meijer dies at 102|first=Jerry|last=Malec}}</ref> |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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[[File:Meijer Gardens October 2014 61 (Tropical Conservatory).jpg|thumb|[[Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park]] in [[Grand Rapids Charter Township, Michigan]]]] |
[[File:Meijer Gardens October 2014 61 (Tropical Conservatory).jpg|thumb|[[Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park]] in [[Grand Rapids Charter Township, Michigan]]]] |
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Meijer helped establish the [[Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meijergardens.org/about/ |title=About |publisher=Meijer Gardens |access-date= |
Meijer helped establish the [[Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meijergardens.org/about/ |title=About |publisher=Meijer Gardens |access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> An Honors College at [[Grand Valley State University]] is named for him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gvsu.edu/honor/ |title=Frederik Meijer Honors College – Grand Valley State University |website=Gvsu.edu |date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> A Chair in [[Dutch people|Dutch]] culture at [[Calvin University]] is also named for him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://calvin.edu/academics/departments-programs/dutch/frederik-meijer-chair/ |title=Frederik Meijer Chair – Dutch – Calvin College |access-date=June 28, 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name=king-wilson-2006-12-06>{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Kyla |last2=Wilson |first2=Rick |name-list-style= amp |title=Bike Trail Planned near South Beltline on Track |work=[[The Grand Rapids Press]] |date=December 6, 2006 |page=B1}}</ref><ref>[http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=508&type=SPRK Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park] [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 18:06, 2 September 2024
Frederik Meijer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer December 7, 1919 |
| Died | November 25, 2011 (aged 91) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Title | Chairman, Meijer |
| Spouse |
Lena Rader (m. 1946) |
| Children | Doug 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.[1]
Early life
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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 was the U.S. representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district from 2021 to 2023.[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
[edit]
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 University 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
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h "Frederik G.H. Meijer". Forbes.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "Meijer, Fred and Lena | Learning to Give". Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ^ "Forbes 400 2016". Forbes.com. September 28, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Michigan Election Results: Third Congressional District". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ Ed Riojas Illustration (November 26, 2011). "Fred Meijer, West Michigan billionaire grocery magnate, dies at 91". MLive.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ^ Malec, Jerry. "Wife of retail giant Frederik Meijer, Lena Meijer dies at 102".
- ^ "About". Meijer Gardens. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ^ "Frederik Meijer Honors College – Grand Valley State University". Gvsu.edu. January 27, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ^ "Frederik Meijer Chair – Dutch – Calvin College". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
- ^ King, Kyla & Wilson, Rick (December 6, 2006). "Bike Trail Planned near South Beltline on Track". The Grand Rapids Press. p. B1.
- ^ Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Further reading
[edit]- Meijer, Fred (1998). Just Call Me Fred: 101 Thoughts on People, Business and Life in General. Grand Rapids: Meijer. OCLC 40640126.
- ten Harmsel, Larry; Smith, Bill (2009). Fred Meijer: Stories of His Life. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8028-6460-4. OCLC 262878972.
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