John Richard Linden

John was born on March 19, 1939 to John Andrew Bair and Mary-Ellen Paar in Canton, OH. He graduated from North Plainfield High School in New Jersey. After graduating high school John joined the United States Air Force Reserves. He married Mary Teresa (Terry) France in 1959 and they had seven children together. John and Terry owned a successful kennel and grooming shop in New Jersey before moving to Fort Myers Beach, Florida in 1978. In 1986, John then joined forces with his son, John at Modern Tile, where he continued until retirement. John married Patricia Miller in 1997 and they remained happily married until her death in 2010.

John’s children remember him best as ‘Joe Cool’ and that he could still ‘Fly 47’ with a martini in hand. They have many wonderful childhood memories of their father including boat rides on the Gulf of Mexico and their annual Busch Gardens trip. His dry sense of humor kept them all laughing. They’ll never forget his late-night candy bar runs, his willingness to drive them anywhere at any time and of course, the family game ‘Bite the Beak.’

John was preceded in death by parents, his wife Patricia Linden and his three unborn grandchildren. He is survived by his children: John Linden (Mary-Rose), Kelleen Linden-Schrickel (Peter), Christopher Linden (Diana), Megan Linden-Haataja (Jerry), Caitlin Linden, Courtney Linden-Buchholtz (Zak) and Brittney Linden Whitfield (Christopher). John was a very proud Poppy to his 21 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Friends and Family can pay their respects on Wednesday, May 11, at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park in Fort Myers, FL. Visitation will be from 3:30pm to 7:00pm

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 10:00AM at the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive Fort Myers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hope Hospice, a place that brought great peace to him in his final days.