Jan B. Vander Ploeg was born in Holland, Ottawa County, Michigan on July 5, 1900. There is actually a question as to his date of birth. According to records held by the Michigan State Archives, Jan was born on july 4; however, according to a genealogy written by Jan himself, his date of birth was July 5, 1900.

Jan graduated from Hope College, had two years in Western Theological Seminary, and two years at Harvard University Landscape School. Immediately after college graduation in 1922, he organized the Shady Lawn Florists for the family. Jan spent most of his adult life in Muskegon, Michigan, in the landscape nursery business, Democratic Party politics, and he held offices in the Congregational Church on a state and national level. He was a trustee of Michigan State University and Oakland University, and won a seat in the Michigan Senate which he held for two years. Failing to be re-elected to the Senate, he accepted a position as Branch Manager of the Muskegon License Bureau from which he retired in 1972. He married Margaret Raak Bos in 1931- had three daughters- all married and had children and lived in various parts of the United States.

(Excerpt from History and Genealogy of Ancestors in the Netherlands and Decendants in America of Derk Ten Cate and Berendina Oonk, Seven Generations 1768-1973, by Jan B. Vander Ploeg Printed in Muskegon, Michigan 1973)


This appeared in the Muskegon Chronicle, Tuesday, November 6, 1984
"Former state, local leader, Jan Vanderploeg, dies at 84"

Former State Senator Jan B. Vanderploeg died in Grand Rapids Monday at the age of 84. He served in the state senate from 33rd District from 1964-1966.

He was a former North Muskegon resident and landscape architect and also held a seat on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees from 1956-1963.

A 1922 Hope College graduate, Vanderploeg also served on the North Muskegon City Council from 1947-1951.

Vanderploeg was preceded in death four weeks ago by his wife Margaret and is survived by his three daughters, Jane Deckoff of New York City; Gretchen Swibold of Canton, CT; and Mildred Feldman of Baton Rouge, La; 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; two brothers, Donald and Herbert Vanderploeg of Holland and one sister, Bernice Boer, of Leawood, Kansas.

The family will be at home between 6 and 9 p.m. Tuesday at 547 Cherry, S.E. Grand Rapids. Contributions may be made to the Fountain St Church, 24 Fountain St. N.E. Grand Rapids.

There will be no funeral. He donated his body to Michigan State University.

Jan B. Vander Ploeg was born in Holland, Ottawa County, Michigan on July 5, 1900. There is actually a question as to his date of birth. According to records held by the Michigan State Archives, Jan was born on july 4; however, according to a genealogy written by Jan himself, his date of birth was July 5, 1900.

Jan graduated from Hope College, had two years in Western Theological Seminary, and two years at Harvard University Landscape School. Immediately after college graduation in 1922, he organized the Shady Lawn Florists for the family. Jan spent most of his adult life in Muskegon, Michigan, in the landscape nursery business, Democratic Party politics, and he held offices in the Congregational Church on a state and national level. He was a trustee of Michigan State University and Oakland University, and won a seat in the Michigan Senate which he held for two years. Failing to be re-elected to the Senate, he accepted a position as Branch Manager of the Muskegon License Bureau from which he retired in 1972. He married Margaret Raak Bos in 1931- had three daughters- all married and had children and lived in various parts of the United States.

(Excerpt from History and Genealogy of Ancestors in the Netherlands and Decendants in America of Derk Ten Cate and Berendina Oonk, Seven Generations 1768-1973, by Jan B. Vander Ploeg Printed in Muskegon, Michigan 1973)


This appeared in the Muskegon Chronicle, Tuesday, November 6, 1984
"Former state, local leader, Jan Vanderploeg, dies at 84"

Former State Senator Jan B. Vanderploeg died in Grand Rapids Monday at the age of 84. He served in the state senate from 33rd District from 1964-1966.

He was a former North Muskegon resident and landscape architect and also held a seat on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees from 1956-1963.

A 1922 Hope College graduate, Vanderploeg also served on the North Muskegon City Council from 1947-1951.

Vanderploeg was preceded in death four weeks ago by his wife Margaret and is survived by his three daughters, Jane Deckoff of New York City; Gretchen Swibold of Canton, CT; and Mildred Feldman of Baton Rouge, La; 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; two brothers, Donald and Herbert Vanderploeg of Holland and one sister, Bernice Boer, of Leawood, Kansas.

The family will be at home between 6 and 9 p.m. Tuesday at 547 Cherry, S.E. Grand Rapids. Contributions may be made to the Fountain St Church, 24 Fountain St. N.E. Grand Rapids.

There will be no funeral. He donated his body to Michigan State University.