Leon Beyer age 95, of Holland, died Thursday, August 13. 2026.
Lee was born at home, December 8, 1930, in Holland, Michigan, the youngest of seven children born to Nicholas and Rolina Beyer.
From the earliest age Lee showed extraordinary skill in creating things and especially loved electronics. As early as eight, he had wired up his “own light” on the back porch. By fourteen, he was working for Nelson Bosman, where he worked for 6.5 years. After this, he worked at Allen’s Radio Shop for another 1.5 years.
Lee’s interest in electronics led him to join the Electronic Unit of the Navy Reserves. This began a nine year enlistment with the Reserves, although the four years before he was eighteen didn’t officially count.
In 1953, at 22 years of age, Lee began his own business, “Lee’s Radio & Television.” He bought his first home at 10 W. 35th Street, for which he privately borrowed small sums, paid them off in 4.5 years, and never borrowed again. “Lee’s Radio & Television” continued operating from this home for twenty-one years.
Lee met Pearl when he repaired her television. He not only repaired the TV, but also installed some parts for free. He had to go back to the shop to get the parts, and Pearl later joked that he left to check her credit! They were married in 1964.
In 1975, “Lee’s Radio” was moved out of the house and to a shop a short distance away, near the corner of 35th and Washington, where he specialized in CB radios.
In 1980, Lee built a very unique house that ran on solar power, all his own design. It took him two years to build in his “spare time.”
Lee sold his business in 1984 and officially retired at 54 years old. Meanwhile, another house was in the works which he also built entirely himself, and which was especially uniquely designed such that he could “heat it with a toaster” and monitor all of its special electronics by way of blinking light panels on the walls. After this, he did woodworking for a couple of years and made many beautiful handmade gifts for his children and grandchildren. His radio repair moved toward antique radios, and he sold his refurbished radios at Tulip City Antique Mall.
Lee was very well-known in the Holland area as an expert in radios and electronics, and a respected and honest businessman.
Aside from teaching his children the necessity of a personal relationship with the Lord, his philosophy was to: Earn honestly, Save regularly, Give generously, and Live modestly.
Lee was preceded in death by all of his siblings, Manley (Johanna) Beyer, Harriet (Gerrit) Jansen, Pat (Marinus) DeJonge, Gerald (Mildred) Beyer, Ange (Don) DeWitt, and Evelyn Beyer; son Kim, grandson Jacob, granddaughter Julie, and daughter-in-law Karen. He is survived by his beloved wife, Pearl, his children, Nancy (Kevin) Hansen, Cathy (Paul) Diemer, Laura (Al) Stolz, Sandy (Lon) Eding, Cathy Naber, Linda (Randy) Kuipers, Jeff (Carol) Beyer, Lisa (Kurt) Drooger, Nick (Michelle) Beyer, Peter (Shelly) Beyer, 32 grandchildren, and 55 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 259 Central Ave. Holland. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home.
Comments