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Article: Jay Van Andel, 80, co-founder of Amway
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- December 8, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2004 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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ADA, Mich. -- Jay Van Andel, the co-founder of Amway Corp. who
helped parlay neighborhood soap sales into a billion-dollar business
and later became a leading philanthropist for conservative causes,
died Tuesday. He was 80.
Mr. Van Andel died at his home in Ada, just east of Grand Rapids,
of apparent heart failure, said Casey Wondergem, executive director
of the Jay and Betty Van Andel Foundation. About nine years ago, Mr.
Van Andel was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
He and Amway co-founder Richard DeVos reshaped their hometown of
Grand Rapids over the years with their donations. Many buildings
there bear one of their names.
"He's going to be sorely missed," said DeVos' daughter-in-law, ...