Edwin Grevers

Edwin 'Ed' Grevers, 75, passed away and was made whole again on September 30, 2024. Ed is survived by his best friend and wife of 51 years, Anja, his three beloved children, Carolyn (Jeff), Andrew (Harriet), and Matt (Annie) and five beautiful grandchildren Skylar, Atticus, Gracie, Otto and Gideon as well as his brother, Jan (Beatrice) and nephews and niece Michael, Daniel and Nicole. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cornelia and Jan.

Ed was born on February 4, 1949 in the Dutch town of Wassenaar. Ed came from humble stock and learned how to work hard early in life. His father helped find teenage Ed a summer job overseas in the USA, farming gladiolus in North Carolina. With time, Ed brought a very Dutch expertise to the US through his knowledge of tulips. Ed moved to the US permanently in 1971. He was a true patriot, valuing the freedoms this country has to offer more than most can.

But becoming a US citizen took time. Ed had to place a classified ad for a specified period in the Chicago Tribune for "an expert in tulip bulb propagation". No one else filled the ad for Ed's skillset, so eventually he was granted his American dream. He began working for the Chalet Nursery and stayed with the same company as a landscape architect for 50 years. Prior to his work at the Chalet, Ed taught horticulture and helped research flower bulb propagation at Michigan State University.

Ed met his wife at the pool in Wassenaar where they both played water polo and Anja coached polo and swimming. They went on their first date with sopping wet hair and Anja ended up following her Ed to the US. They were married on February 24, 1973 at St. Norbert Catholic Church in Northbrook. During their five decades together, Ed and Anja trotted the globe attending international swim meets, RVed their way across North America, and more recently, basked in the Florida sunshine during Chicago's cold seasons.

Ed was a giant amongst men. At 6'6, he towered over all but looked down upon no one. Ed had an easy laugh, loved to joke- always with a lively sparkle in his eyes, and lived a life of service. There were never voids with Ed around because he was ever-eager to meet the needs of those he loved the most. Nothing seemed like work to Ed, because he genuinely enjoyed living life. He was a man of solutions- constantly tinkering and building and improving his surroundings. Stories of his farmer strength abound. Ed was a hero to his kids, a pillar of strength to his wife and an absolute light of a human being. God made man in his image, and Ed bore a beautiful likeness to his creator.

A celebration of Ed's life will be held at St. Norbert Catholic Church in Northbrook at 10 a.m. on October 12. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society: https://diy.lls.org/fundraiser/5844445


Funeral Service: https://youtube.com/live/Zo3sTGgyImU?feature=share