Pieter Lion passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 3, 2018. He was born in Groningen, Netherlands, on May 23, 1945.
Lion immigrated to the United States in 1953, where he attended Grand Rapids Christian schools and was a graduate of Calvin College. He served as an Intelligence Advisor in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969 and in the Michigan National Guard. Pieter was a proud U.S. Army Veteran serving in the Vietnam War. During his time in the Army he earned a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and an Army Commendation Medal. Pieter was decorated by the U.S. Army and the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam.
From 1974 to 1991, Lion was employed by Holiday Inn Corporation as a general manager and district director. He managed hotels in Indiana, Michigan, Arkansas, Florida and Texas. He served as district director for franchised Holiday Inn hotels in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. From 1991 until 2000, he was a partner and served as vice president of operations for Holly’s Inc. From 2001 until his death. Pieter and his wife Patricia owned and operated the Rosemont Inn Resort in Douglas.
He was a member of the board of directors of the International Association of Holiday Inns, president of the Arkansas Hotel and Motel Association, board member of the American Hotel and Motel Association, the North Little Rock Convention Bureau, and was a member and officer in the SKAL Clubs of Little Rock, Miami, Houston, and Detroit.
Pieter was a member and chairman of the board of directors of the Grand Rapids Visitor and Convention Bureau, and a member of the board of directors of the H. Henry Meeter Center at Calvin College. He was a member and chair of the Douglas Planning Commission, and member of the Tri-Community Planning Commission. He was appointed to the Village of Douglas Council and served as president of the Douglas Council.
Pieter loved dogs, photography, fly-fishing, reading and rare books, and classical music, especially Bach. He enjoyed studying logic, history, and military ethics. He was a fan of Manchester United and Netherlands National soccer team.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Derk and Geppy (Noorman) Lion; and two sisters and a brother, all of whom died in infancy.
He is survived by his wife Patricia; son Derk (Kriszta Nagy); daughter Katharine (Nicolas Rojas); grandson Oliver; and brother Jerry.
His family welcomes you to attend a celebration of life gathering on Sunday, June 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Rosemont Inn Resort, 83 Lakeshore Drive, Douglas, 49406. A private committal service with full military honors will be at a later date at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta.
To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Pieter’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation and Funeral Care, Grand Rapids,
.