In Memoriam: Nick VanWingerden

Chris Beytes

Nicolaas “Nick” VanWingerden, former owner of Mid-American Growers of Granville, Illinois, passed away on January 16. He was 71. Nick was one of the 16 children of Aart and Cora VanWingerden, patriarch and matriarch of the VanWingerden clan.

Survivors include his wife, Margie; three sons, Lenny, Jared and Nickolas; three daughters, Jolene, Valerie and Mikayla; 10 grandchildren and 13 siblings.

Nick’s nephew Abe informed me of his passing, writing, “Uncle Nick was an innovator in this industry and created one of the first ‘mega-grower’ locations in the Midwest. He was also heavily involved in international missions and other charity work in the local community and church, and leaves a lasting legacy.”

Nick built some of the first glass-glazed open-roof greenhouses in the country and, as Abe implied, was a pioneer in the mass market plant business. GT