Frederik Meijer

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, In 1934, at age 14, he worked with his father Hendrik to found Meijer's North Side Grocery in Greenville.

Personal life In 1946, he married Lena Rader (1919–2022), the daughter of farmers, who had been a cashier in one of his stores. 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

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.