ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Aug. 9, 2024) – As one long-time Zeeland institution celebrates its 100th anniversary, another institution who lived almost as long as that has passed away.
The City of Zeeland announced on Friday the death of its longest-serving mayor, as Les Hoogland succumbed on Thursday at the age of 94. The native son of a former mayor himself, Frank Hoogland, Mr. Hoogland served a two-year hitch with the US Army in the Korean Conflict before returning home and eventually taking over operating his father’s West End Garage.
When Mr. Hoogland sold the garage in 1986, he spent some time as a part-time broker, and began a 30-year elected municipal government career with two four-year terms as a council member. He was elected mayor in 1989, and for 22 years, he guided the growth of Zeeland through developing a strong industrial base, renovating the downtown district, and helping to launch the “Feel the Zeel” promotional campaign.
Mr. Hoogland may have retired as mayor in 2011 at the age of 81, but he was far from retiring in his final years. In the city release announcing Mr. Hoogland’s death, he was called a “fundraising legend,” as his successor, current Zeeland Mayor Kevin Klynstra, explained in how he helped in the eventual hiring of current Zeeland Historical Society Executive Director Katelyn VerMerris in 2020.
Klynstra had been a council member himself before succeeding Mr. Hoogland as mayor.
Ironically, Mr. Hoogland’s death coincides with the official centennial celebration of Frank’s Diner off of Main Avenue this weekend, an eatery that the former mayor frequented throughout his life.
The Langeland-Sterenberg-Yntema Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Visitation is at the funeral home (251 State St.) from 2:30-4:30 PM and 6-8 PM on Wednesday, with a 1 PM funeral at Third Christian Reformed Church (10 W. Central Ave.), and a procession to Zeeland Cemetary, where Mr. Hoogland will be buried with military honors. Klynstra has ordered city flags to be flown at half-staff from Monday through sunset on Thursday.
LISTEN: WHTC’s Peg McNichol chatted with one of Mr. Hoogland’s daughters, Julie, as her father was being honored in 2020 on his 90th birthday. Note: The sound quality is admittedly questionable.
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