Dennis Mieras

Dennis Mieras Jr. was a man dedicated to his family and his faith. He spent his life balancing hard work with being a loving father and husband, succeeding in providing the best for his family. Throughout his life, he maintained an essence of commitment to family, faith and the joy of life itself.

1922 was an interesting year, full of ups and downs. On January 11th, the first successful use of insulin to treat diabetes is made public, and on May 30th, the Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. In October, Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy, a move that is a precursor to war to come. But for most of the people living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, such happenings were nothing more than headlines in a newspaper. Their lives centered around raising their families and earning a living. This was the life of Dennis Mieras Sr., whose parents were Dutch immigrants, and Annetta (Braford) Mieras, the daughter of English decent. The Mieras family lived on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of their eighth child. Son, Dennis Jr., was born on August 24, 1922, in their home on 119 Grove Street.

Dennis spent his growing up years on the north side of Grand Rapids, where he attended East Leonard Elementary School. While a dedicated student at Creston High School, Dennis was a member of the National Honor Society and greatly enjoyed playing baseball. This love of baseball would stay with him throughout his life, providing him with some of his favorite pursuits. He also found time to work part time after school at Greenhoe-VanZee Funeral Home, doing whatever needed to be done. After graduating from high school in 1941, Dennis took a job at the American Seating Company on the west side of Grand Rapids, while still working most nights and weekends at the funeral home. By this time, his duties at the funeral home included driving and lending a hand on the ambulance, which in those times was part of the funeral services. Because of advice given to him by his Brother, who was an engineer at Ford Motor Company, Dennis ventured to Detroit to work in the Ford plant. Alas, big city life did not impress him and after only an hour in the factory, Dennis returned to life in Grand Rapids.

Soon Dennis joined many other proud young American men by enlisting in the U.S. Navy on October 7, 1942, answering the call to protect his nation during World War II. While stationed in Hawaii, Dennis trained as a Pharmacist Mate and served on a hospital ship until his honorable discharge in January of 1946. Prior to his enlistment, Dennis was persuaded by a friend to ask a young lady named Gertrude “Trudy” DeVries if he could take her home from accordion lessons, which she attended at the Middleton’s Music Studio on Plainfield NE. On their long drive to her home on Griggs Street S.W., a beautiful romance blossomed. And although the military service took Dennis miles from home, Trudy stayed on his mind the entire time he was gone. Through their faithful correspondence to each other, their love grew stronger and shortly after his discharge, Dennis and Trudy were happily married in the Klise Memorial Chapel of the East Congregational Church in Grand Rapids on February 19, 1946. The couple spent the next fifty eight years together, raising three wonderful children, William (Bill), Terry and Julie, and sharing many precious events.

With a young family to support, Dennis took a job as an upholsterer for Brandt Furniture Co. He thoroughly enjoyed this job and was a very conscientious and meticulous worker. He later went to work at Kindel Furniture and became the supervisor of the cutting and sewing department. One of his responsibilities included making the initial patterns and models of the new furniture lines. In this day and age, these masterful skills would make him a furniture design artist. Despite working long hours and sometimes six days a week, Dennis took great pride in every aspect of his work. Even with a steady job, Dennis still worked at the funeral home. He never let go of his dream of becoming a licensed mortician and funeral director. Unfortunately, because of long days at the furniture factory and commitment to his family, Dennis eventually gave up his dream. Though often reflected on this dream throughout his life.

The one thing that upheld Dennis throughout his life was his faith in God. As a young boy, his parents instilled in him a strong Christian foundation as members of the First Free Methodist Church. His wife Trudy was a member of the Grandville Avenue Christian Reformed Church and after they were married they began attending the Creston Christian Reformed Church, which was located on the north side of Grand Rapids where they lived. He and Trudy were active in the church and its many activities while Dennis later went on to be a Deacon in this congregation. In the early 1970s they transferred their membership to the East Leonard Christian Reformed Church, where Dennis served as an Elder. Upon retiring from the factory, he and Trudy moved to a retirement village on the south side of town where they joined the Seymour Christian Reformed Church. Throughout Dennis’ life, his strong faith was a hallmark of his life and his Christian commitment was always evident in the way he chose to lead his life.

After retirement, Dennis and Trudy took a few trips to Florida and Arizona with their last trip being to Savannah, Georgia to visit their precious grandchildren. When in the comforts of his own home, Dennis liked to listen to Christian music but loved to be outside meticulously tending to his yard and flowers. A well-read man, Dennis liked to engage in a good conversation about politics and didn’t hold back his opinion on the subject either. As a lifelong baseball fanatic, he especially enjoyed watching the Detroit Tiger games. His taste in food was pretty simple; he liked to eat just about anything, particularly omelets with mushrooms or mushroom burgers. Yet he absolutely wouldn’t eat liver and onions or chicken, which stemmed from his childhood when his father worked at a poultry market and they ate chicken constantly. One of the greatest joys in Dennis’ life was having his family around him and he never failed to lovingly let them know if they hadn’t been around lately. He was especially in his glory surrounded by the love and smiles of his five grandchildren and three great grandsons, who were the apple of Grandpa’s eye. With family as the cornerstone of his life, Dennis cherished the day he married his beloved Trudy and the birth of his children as the greatest in his 81 years on this earth.

Dennis Mieras Jr., aged 81 of Grand Rapids, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 4, 2004. Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Trudy Mieras; his children: Bill and Carole Mieras, Terry and Jill Mieras, Julie Mieras; his 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandsons; his sisters: Amelia Jean and Jerry Martin, Johanna and John Strik, Dorothy Figg; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Russell Proos, Marva DeVries, Richard DeVries, Elaine and Gerald Feenstra, Don and Leona Zoodsma; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 7, at 3 p.m. at Seymour Christian Reformed Church, 840 Alger St. S.E, with Rev. Carl Kammeraad officiating. Private interment will be in Fairplains Cemetery. For those who wish, memorial contributions to either Hospice of Holland Home or the Diabetes Association would be appreciated. Mr. Mieras reposes at the Van Strien – Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E., where relatives and friends may meet his family on Friday, August 6, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Please go to www.lifestorynet.com to read Dennis’s life story, leave a memory or make a memorial contribution in his memory. Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes

Dennis leaves a legacy of faith and commitment for his children and grandchildren, and his example is precious to all who knew and loved him.