James Patrick Linder died at his home in Holland Sunday after a brief illness. A 1980 Wayland High School graduate and former Hopkins resident, he was 53.

Jim was a genuinely caring, compassionate, gentle and peaceful person whose greatest joy in life was his special needs son Christopher J. Linder, who survives him, along with his wife of 30 years, Celeste Iciek Linder, his sister and brother in law, Sue and Dan VanDyke, his brother John Linder, and great uncle and aunt Jack and Vivienne VanderBaan.

Jim was a member of the large Iciek Family, where he is survived by his mother in law, Margaret Iciek, his sisters and brothers in law, Christine and Eric Muntter, Laurie Iciek, Tom and Tracy Iciek, Jim Iciek, Phil and Mary Iciek, Therese Cook, Roseanne and Jim Madalinski, Bernie Schafer, and Mark and Becky Iciek. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ronny Linder, his father in law, Stanley Iciek, brothers in law Milton Schafer and Michael Cook, and his niece, Elizabeth Rose Iciek.

Jim retired in 2014 from the General Motors Corporation, where he worked primarily as a tool and die maker for 30 years. He attended Lansing Community College, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University.

Jim loved nature and he was an avid outdoors person. He enjoyed biking, kayaking, hiking, backpacking, and mountain climbing. Many memories were made with family and friends at Jim and Celeste’s cottages on Little Platte Lake near Sleeping Bear Dunes and on Bois Blanc Island in the Straits of Mackinac.

Throughout his life, Jim remained a devoted fan of the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Tigers.

The family will greet visitors from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at the Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State Street, Zeeland, MI 49464.

For those wishing to make memorial contributions, the family suggests Benjamin’s Hope.