In Memoriam – Lena Meijer (1919–2022)

Miller 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.

“Lena Meijer meant so much to so many, it is nearly impossible to measure her impact on the West Michigan landscape,” the firm said in a statement. “Our gratitude and respect for Lena, Fred, and the entire Meijer family is bound to the life of service and philanthropy she believed in. We are all the beneficiaries of Lena’s caring and generosity, and her dedication to supporting health care, education, recreation, cultural arts, and of course the grocery industry in our community will live on forever.”

Lena Meijer’s legacy will live on for countless generations of visitors, guests, and residents of West Michigan through the many institutions she so generously supported, including:

• The Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
• The Lena Meijer Children’s Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
• Spectrum Health’s Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center
• Grand Valley State University’s Meijer Campus in Holland
• WGVU Meijer Public Broadcast Center in Grand Rapids

Lena Meijer was preceded in death by her husband, Fred, in 2011 and is survived by their three children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren in addition to many nieces, nephews, and cousins.