Cornelis "Casey" Pieter Vander Linden

THE VIDEO TRIBUTE HONOURING CASEY IS AVAILABLE BELOW.

   It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Casey Vander Linden of Crowsnest Pass, AB on June 21, 2022 at the Chinook Regional Hospital, Lethbridge, AB.  He was 86 years of age.

   Casey was born in Bergambacht, Netherlands on September 18, 1935.  He immigrated to Canada by boat in April 1950 along with 10 of his siblings and his parents to the small town of Iron Springs, AB.  Once in Canada, work was scarce which meant having to leave family to find work.  This led Casey on a sole journey at 15 years of age by train across the plains in Alberta where there was work for him as a farmhand near Calgary.  He worked long, hard hours and made $5.00 a week, with the rest of his earnings being sent home to help support his family. It was in 1957 he met and fell in love with a beautiful woman, Eva Toly, and the happy couple married on November 5, 1959.  In October 1961, they relocated to the Burmis Camp at Lost Creek up the Adanac where Casey became the head Sawyer for the mill at the Camp while also enjoying hunting, fishing, ping pong tournaments and church.  Sadly, in 1964 Casey and Eve faced the loss of their home and cherished belongings to a house fire.  They ended up moving 5 more times in a span of 6 years before settling in Bellevue, AB and eventually on their acreage in Passburg in 1975 where they have remained for almost 50 years while raising a beautiful family and enjoying almost sixty-three years of marriage.

   Casey was a man of many diverse talents and interests.  He loved all aspects of technology from initially learning about computers, to fixing computers, to building his own computer from scratch.  He loved to create video presentations for families and friends.  He had a very quick mind and loved the challenges of puzzles and mastered the Rubik cube many times even being able to do it with lightning speed during a commercial.  He was also extremely mechanically inclined, a master MacGyver and could make something out of nothing.  With a grade 7 education he unfortunately never thought of himself as educated enough to tackle certain things, yet was looked to and sought after at his place of employment for his skillset as Head Sawyer beating many production records along with his knowledge to fix, design and operate very complicated machinery. When he wasn’t busy with technology and fixing others computers, keeping his acreage or tending to their massive garden, he later loved attending music jams with Eva and playing cards with her daily.  They always had a fun friendly banter with each game played even though the stakes only involved a dollar and a quarter.

   Casey was also very athletic.  Bowling, ping pong, playing pool with his family, skating and playing hockey on Red Fern Lake on their acreage with his children were among some of his favorite sports, but horseshoes was where he truly excelled.  As a member of the Crowsnest Pass and Lethbridge clubs, as well as the Alberta Horseshoe Association, Casey had the opportunity to travel to competitions throughout Canada and the United States, earning many awards along the way. His trophy and medal collection, too numerous to list, warranted its own dedicated space. He won four provincial titles, placed fourth at Canadian nationals, placed first in the Senior division at Worlds, as well as achieving many local wins.  Casey had a motto of “the family that plays together, stays together”,  so he passed the love of the game on to his family and they too participated and triumphed in the Southern Alberta Summer Games and many other tournaments as well. He built and enjoyed his own horseshoe courts, and loved to pitch up until he was no longer able to. 

   Out of all of the things in this world though, Casey loved his family and friends the most. He was always happiest when surrounded by love and laughter.  He was a jokester and loved to laugh till he cried.  He gave much love and taught much; from giving dune buggy rides, to teaching his children and eventually his grandchildren to drive the dune buggy which was a stick shift. He played with his grandchildren and was in awe of them.  He gave them many rides on his driving lawnmower.  We remember how he bought a motorbike for his kids and taught each one of them how to shift it and ride it.  He also had snowmobiles for the family and Sunday rides in the Flathead area were another wonderful family pastime; roasting Eve’s homemade hamburger patties over an open fire being his biggest highlight while on the trails.   He was really just a big kid himself and was so very generous and loving.   He came from very hard times where there was scarcity with money and food and this was reason he was so driven to provide a wonderful life for his family and to give generously of himself which he did.  One of his most amazing attributes was his humbleness… he didn’t want any accolades for things he did for others, or for his personal accomplishments. Although, when you’re talented like he was at pitching horseshoes for so many years, he couldn’t hide from being inducted, along with his wife Eva, into the “Horseshoe Hall of Fame”.  It was truly such an honour.

   He stated on many occasions that a person’s health is their greatest gift.  He faced many health issues in the latter part of his life and because of his positive demeanour and tenaciousness he conquered those battles, but his last battle was just too great for him.  Although he wanted nothing more than to be able to come home and sit on the deck with Eva taking in the surrounding beauty and view as he had done so many countless times, it was not meant to be.  His body tired from a long struggle with a multitude of issues he was left with no choice but to depart from a world he loved being a part of.  Rest now dear Husband, Dad and Poppa, and thank you for your beautiful soul and wonderful example of an amazing life lived.  Your laughter, smile and kind ways will be cherished forever.  You have left an imprint on all our hearts, a legacy of love and countless wonderful memories. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew you.

   Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life is his wife, Eva Vander Linden; his children, Robert “Bob” (Lori) Vander Linden of San Diego, CA, Donald “Don” Vander Linden of Calgary, AB and Rhonda (Bruce) Jackson of Blairmore, AB; his grandchildren, Brad, Courtney, Lindsay (Bob & Lori), Brittney, Riley, Blake (Don), Brayden and Raegan (Rhonda & Bruce); his great-grandchildren, Jack (Raegan), Maxwell (Brad & Emily) and Kai, Nakoa (Brittney & George); his brothers, Art van der Linden and Peter (Willy) van der Linden, both of Coaldale, AB, Henry “Hank” van der Linden of Lethbridge, AB; his sister, Mya (Bill) Suchar of Hillcrest, AB; his sister-in-law, Mel van der Linden of Lethbridge, AB; his cousin, Thea Velting of Coaldale, AB; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

   He was predeceased by his parents, Jannigje and Pieter van der Linden; his grandson, Devon Jackson; his brothers, Arie and John van der Linden; his sisters, Alie (Piet) Heres, Teuntje (Joe) Suurd, Audrey (Fred) Post, Jenny (John) Bransma, Marie (Joe) Sauer; his sisters-in-law, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Arie), Teunisje “Teurne” & Elaine (Art), Donna (Henry) and his niece, Debra Sauer.

   A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at Fantin’s Funeral Chapel (13461 – 20 Ave., Blairmore, AB) with Pastor Al Robinson presiding.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be gratefully accepted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Alberta (www.heartandstroke.ca).  Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements. (403) 562-8555

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