Tom van Wingerden

Tom van Wingerden, 63, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. He passed away at his family residence and family business in Huntersville. He was the founder of Metrolina Greenhouses and an avid auto racer. Visiting hours will be Tuesday, with a funeral on Wednesday. Details below.

Tom was born Feb. 12, 1946, in Ridderkerk, Netherlands, the second son of the late Aart and Cora Van Wingerden.

He married Vickie van der Spek on Jan. 17, 1967, in Waddinxveen, Netherlands. Tom and Vickie immigrated to the United States in 1971 and started Metrolina Greenhouses in 1972. The family business now has 600 full-time employees and is run by Tom’s children.

For the last 6 years, Tom worked with Double Harvest, a missionary project in Haiti to help the under-privileged in that country. Tom was also an avid racer in the Legends Masters and Thunder Roadster divisions. Most of all, Tom was an overly generous man giving to hundreds of charity organizations in the local, national, and international world.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Vickie (59), of Huntersville, NC.

Tom is also survived by his 6 loyal children: Art (42) Van Wingerden and his wife, Kelly, of Huntersville, NC; Abe (40) Van Wingerden and his wife, Cindi, of Huntersville, NC; Helen (37) Johnson, and her husband, Todd, of Huntersville, NC; Michael (32) Van Wingerden and his wife, Courtney, of Huntersville, NC; Rose (31) Karaffa and her husband, Joey, of Huntersville, NC; and Thomas (27) van Wingerden and wife, Lindsey, of Huntersville, NC.

Tom is survived by his 14 treasured grandchildren: Eric (16), Grant (14), Noah (13), Paul (12), Andrew (11), Sam (10), Zach (8), Carter (8), Kaitlyn (6), Brayden (6), Averie (4), Jackson (3), Stephanie (3), and Brady (1). His granddaughter, Chloe, passed away in May, 2006.

Tom is survived by 14 siblings: brother, Len van Wingerden and his wife, Elaine, of Somers, CT; brother, Case van Wingerden, and his wife, Hanny, of Montpelier, VA; sister, Maryka van der Hengst, and her husband, Willem, of Springfield, TN; brother, John van Wingerden, and his wife, Dawn, of Oberlin, OH; sister, Lona van Hoven, and her husband, Gert, of Rapidan, VA; brother, Joe van Wingerden, and his wife, Georgia, of Stevensburg, VA; brother, Nick van Wingerden, and his wife, Margie, of Granville, IL; brother, Arie van Wingerden, and his wife, Lynn, of Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Rose Gapinski, and her husband, Jim, of Westfield, IN; brother, Rich van Wingerden, and his wife, Marianne, of Fletcher, NC; brother, Bob van Wingerden, and his wife, Denise, of Detour, MD; brother, Art van Wingerden, and his wife, Dawn, of Lexington, KY; sister, Tina Cantrell, and her husband, Kelly, of Fletcher, NC; and brother, Ken van Wingerden, and his wife, Grace, of Lexington, KY. Tom’s brother, Bill van Wingerden, passed away in August, 1990.

Tom is also survived by hundreds of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Tom’s legacy in the community, in the industry in which he worked, and in the larger mission world is broad. Tom was the visionary founder of Metrolina Greenhouses, a constant inventor, a generous businessman, a missionary in Haiti, a follower of Christ, a great leader, and a great husband, Father, and Grandfather to all in his family.

The family and the company will continue to push forward and now dedicate their work in their Dad’s memory as he would want it. In the 63 short years that Dad was on this earth, he packed about 125 years of life into it, but he will still be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him, especially his loving family.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec. 22, 4-7 p.m., at Calvary Church, 5801 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte, NC 28226. 704-341-5361

A funeral service is planned Wednesday, Dec. 23, 11 a.m., at Calvary Church, with the Rev. Dr. J.L. Williams presiding.  Burial will be in Ramah Church Cemetery, 14401 Ramah Church Road, Huntersville.

lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Double Harvest-Haiti, Tom Van Wingerden Memorial Fund, 55 S. Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074, www.DoubleHarvest.org. 440-714-1694

Raymer Funeral Home of Huntersville, NC, is taking care of the funeral arrangements.

RELATED COVERAGE

Dec. 20, 2009, “Tom van Wingerden dies at 63; founded Metrolina Greenhouses.”