Visitation on Wednesday, Funeral on Thursday for Zeeland’s Les Hoogland

ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Aug. 14, 2024) – The city of Zeeland says goodbye to its greatest modern ambassador.

Visitation is from 2:30 to 4:30 PM and from 6 to 8 PM on Wednesday at the Langeland-Sterenberg-Yntema Funeral Home for Les Hoogland, who passed away last Thursday at the age of 94. He was an institution in civic government, serving 30 years on the city council, including 22 years as its longest serving mayor, before stepping down in 2011.

His daughter Julie said that her father carried on a family tradition set by her grandfather, Frank Hoogland, a former mayor himself.

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.

Mr. Hoogland sold the garage in 1986.

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.

There is a 1 PM funeral on Thursday at Third Christian Reformed Church off of Central Avenue, with a subsequent procession to Zeeland Cemetery, where Mr. Hoogland will be buried with military honors.