Daniel R. Vos, 93, passed away on Saturday, May 26 after a long life as the patriarch of Dan Vos Construction Company. During his life, Daniel developed a reputation as an honest, hard worker who believed in doing business on the basis of a trusted handshake. Vos was tapped by Amway co-founder Jay Van Andel in 1979 to lead the reconstruction of Ada’s historic covered bridge after the structure burned in an arson fire on Sept. 9, 1979.

He recalled the story last summer during an interview with The Press for a weekly history series called West Michiagn Place of the Week. Vos was called by Van Andel the morning after the bridge was destroyed. “(Jay) said, ‘Dan, start getting things lined up. We’re not going to fiddle around with this,’” said Vos. “I don’t think the ashes were even cold yet.”