Jeroen van der Linden

Jeroen van der Linden died comfortably at his home after a long hard-fought and courageous battle with Lung Cancer on April 10, 2010. His family and friends that loved him dearly were by his side. He was 71 years old. He immigrated to the USA from the Netherlands in 1966 and began working as a meat cutter for A & P Grocery in Maryland. He started his own business called "The Dutch Butcher Shop" and retired in 1998 from Giant Food. Along with his wife Grace, after visiting in 2006, relocated to Maryville, TN in 2007. He, along with his two son-in-laws built their retirement home which they moved into in 2008. After searching for a local church that resonated, they found and fell in love with New Hope Baptist Church which they attended regularly. He was the son of mother Dirkje Maria de Jong & father Adriana van der Linden, Utrecht, NL. He is survived by his wife, Grace van der Linden, Maryville, TN; his three children; son Ted van der Linden, San Francisco, CA; his daughters Jeanette van der Linden, Atlanta, GA; his daughter and son-in-law Terrie & Ben Pugh, New Port Richey, FL; and his two grandchildren Garrett & Melina Pugh; his sister and brother in law Ann & Gene Demers; his brother Dick van der Linden, Utrecht, NL. He is survived by his step-children Darlene & husband Ken Linderman, Walland, TN; Charlie & wife Kim Lang; Maryville, TN; and Gary & wife Cynthia Lang; Maryville, TN. He is survived by step-grandchildren, Kenneth III & wife Karda, & Krystal Linderman, Jason & Briana Lang and Justin & Jessica Lang and step great-grandchild Dustin Linderman. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at New Hope Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Parker officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted in his name by Smith Funeral & Cremation Service and will be utilized to plant trees as part of the Memorial Tree Donor Program for Greenbelt Trail Park System. Please make checks to Smith Funeral & Cremation Service mentioning Jeroen van der Linden. Condolences may be sent at www.smithmortuary.com. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, 1402 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, 865-983-1000. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jeroen van der Linden please visit our Sympathy Store.