Growing up in Lemont TJ was one of my closest friends. I remember in Middle School we went on a Field Trip to Six flags and it was the most fun we'd had. While I was scared to go in rides I remember he was the only one who would go no matter what. Even after throwing up on one ride he still went on more of them than anyone else that day. And through high school after we both moved out of state we would still keep in touch. I remember we would stay up late nights playing on the computer or PlayStation playing games like Minecraft, siege, and terraria talking about life.  We would always crack jokes about how his microphone was plugged directly in the pc. I remember he would constantly talk about the hikes he went on after moving to Tennessee. Showing off the cool stuff he got to see to our friend group. He was excited about college too, telling us that he wouldn't be on his computer that often anymore after he started. I'm sorry I didn't find out sooner and I couldn't be there for you when you needed it the most brother. Someday I hope I can meet you up there and tell you about everything.

I didn't know Thomas incredibly well, but I met him in English class in Senior year of highschool. I didn't expect to have many friends, but I ended up talking to him and another friend a bunch during that class, and we always ended up hanging out and talking to each other, playing games and talking to the teacher. He was a really funny guy with a great sense of humor and really great moral character, he did well in school to my knowledge. I send nothing but the best to the family, I understand what this can do to a family. And I'm so sorry for everyone who's feeling so much pain from this. May God bless you Thomas and I hope you're resting easy brother. Much love.

So very sorry for your loss.  It was a pleasure to have seen TJ run while he was on the South Doyle team.

Coach Pam Haggard
Alcoa High School

Living next door to TJ for the majority of his childhood has left us with many fond memories of him. We remember seeing him when he was just a tiny baby coming home from the hospital. We remember him playing with our dogs in the backyard after asking “Mr. Dave” nicely. We remember TJ trick or treating in his Halloween costume, stopping at our house first. We remember TJ peering over the fence after one of his baseballs found its way in our yard. We remember babysitting him, and bringing him to his summer track practices. But most of all, we remember how lucky we were to have such a great neighbor for all those years.

We are very sorry for your loss, and we are thinking of you in these hard times.

Jeff, Cherie & Abbey,

It's hard to find the words.  I am so grateful that Charlie found a kindred spirit in TJ.  While this is unimaginably hard, today's service was beautiful and I was touched by all of the details that truly celebrated TJ.  Please know our thoughts and love will be with you in the coming days, weeks, months and always.  🎣🦌





Sorry for your loss.

May God welcome Thomas into His presence and may God's Blessings be upon his family and the South Doyle Team!

Coach Kuhl
Lenoir City

Being new to the Lemont Public schools, Kevin was very nervous about his first day of cross country summer running.  That's the day he met TJ who became his very good friend.  TJ introduced Kevin to his friends who became Kevin's friends.  Jeff would take TJ and the guys fishing over the summers.  They all bonded over these many trips to the local fishing holes.  TJ was the fastest runner on the team and one of the smartest kids at school.  But to Kevin and his family, he was an answer to prayers.  May he rest in Jesus' loving arms until we meet again.  

Cheri and Family, so very sorry for your loss.   Prayers are with you.   Val Roraus

I went to the Lemont schools and high school with Tj throughout our adolescence. I remember always wanting to ask him how could he possibly be so smart or know so much about every subject. I remember him in my AP U.S. history class always raising his hand or giving an extra explanation as to why this event occurred, etc. Tj always knew what everyone else didn’t know yet or at all. He was a kind soul and a face that I would always see in the halls or in class and think to myself, “How could someone know the hardest answers?” Although I have not seen TJ since he moved away it kept close contact, I know my boyfriend and friends have been impacted by his loss and so have I. It is hard to know that someone so young could be gone so soon. Especially someone as amazing as TJ Polen. I am sending prayers to your family at this time and hoping that you are all doing as best as you can right now. 

From a friend and classmate, Camryn Caruso. 

Your grief is shared by many.  TJ was so loved and admired.  You gave him a wonderful life.  You have great memories you'll be able to pull from.  May God Bless you and keep you always.

Cherie and Jeff,

Words cannot begin to express our sincere condolences to you and your family. Aaron really looked up to TJ and learned alot from him when they were in track together. I loved that we had track and band and ran into each other at many events.  We are here for you both and send our prayers.

I will always remember TJ for his love for running!  He supported our hospital run for many years and was always trying to beat his PB !  
In the one pic above, he took 2nd overall for male runners!  
TJ will be missed dearly!  

Jeff and Cherie, I am so sorry for your loss and your pain. My heart is broken for your family. This should never happen. I wish you strenth and peace through this tragedy. Please rake care of yourselves and one another.

I’ll always remember TJ as a jokester, a hardworking and determined teammate. I always looked up to TJ because I saw a bit of myself in him: we both acknowledged that running sucked, but we loved it nonetheless. I remember all of the playful “traditions” he started within our team: the old man grunts before hamstring stretches, opening and closing the gate (the correct way), his advocacy to add reverse planks to every core workout, advocating for a bouncy castle if we qualified for the state meet, advocating for boxing robes, rip off pants, the spirit stick, the shortcuts through the Forge, the list goes on and on. TJ had brought a stick and some fishing line down near one of our frequent training routes and stashed it to play around with while he waited for the rest of the team to catch up. One day, miraculously, he hooked a bass. The line was so damaged that it snapped, but the legend will live on forever. TJ always worked hard and was an inspiration to all of us. He will always be known as a legend to Lemont XC & Track. We miss you, we love you, and we hope you have found peace.

When I first met TJ, he was my cross country teammate. Immediately he became someone I aspired to be like, as he was a phenomenal runner. Shortly thereafter he became my classmate in Physics, one whom I sat next to. Once again, he became my goal in that class due to his genius in the subject. It was during this time, through the grind of mile-running and problem-solving that TJ and I became friends. We ate at the same lunch table, practiced together, and joked around with each other everyday. This continued into track season and before I knew it, TJ had become one of my very close friends. He always made fun of my excessive fandom for the Vols, so I jumped at the opportunity to inform him he was now “one of us” when he enrolled at UT. One day he snuck on my laptop during practice and played 9-5 by Dolly Parton at full volume to embarrass me. During the slog of 6 A.M. cross country practices, he and I made a habit of using a SkyView app to observe the present constellations and planets in the sky. Sometimes we partnered up in the weight room to slack off on workouts behind the backs of our coaches. TJ was an amazing teammate, stellar classmate, and a dear friend. I will always remember him and he will be missed.

I’m heartbroken to hear about the loss of TJ.  My family and I would like to express our deepest condolences to TJ’s family.  I have such great memories of running with TJ in high school.  We pushed each other to train hard and had a lot of fun in the process.  Mr. Polen’s time trials were epic.  Our trip to the state championship is a memory I’ll cherish forever.  My family and I will hold a special place in our hearts for the moments we shared with the Polen Family while cheering on the team.  

Countless hours of my childhood were spent playing video games or watching Star Wars with TJ. He was always such a wonderful friend to me, and I look back fondly on all of the time we spent together, from playing baseball to the almost routine sleepovers we had. I’m so sorry for your loss, all of my love goes out to you guys and especially to TJ. I will keep him in my heart forever.

I’m so so sorry for your loss. I hope that all the memories people share of TJ provide a little bit of comfort and some smiles during this unimaginably painful time. Love and hugs and my deepest sympathies to you all. ❤️

South-Doyle 4x400 and 4x800 relay team
TSSAA Division 1 Class AA State championship May 2023 - Murfreesboro, TN

I first heard of TJ right before the summer after the end of my junior year. Our cross country team who sought to excel in the following 2022-2023 year got news that we would be joined by a phenomenal and extraordinarily talented runner from Illinois. Meeting TJ over the summer first at our high altitude training in Colorado, he pledged his ambition and great love for running right away by leading and excelling through all of the training greater than any runner we had competed against and had ran with. We all graciously envied the true talent of TJ, for he was such a humble, respectable, and driven individual of character. For TJ’s team, I can speak on behalf of the allegiance of his brothers and sisters, that we sought and continue to seek to attain his level of character and talent. For I have been driven to shadow in the footsteps of great leaders who encourage love, growth, and determination in the peers around them. And in the case of Thomas (TJ) Polen, academically, physically, and mentally has he shone through deep down in our hearts and minds to seek the potential of being as great as he was, and in his mind, to push further and greater. For TJ was never a quitter. And too will those qualities live on through everyone he impacted dearly. We love you TJ. Rest easy brother.

OBITUARIO

Thomas "TJ" James Polen

1 junio, 2005 – 24 agosto, 2023

Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home & Lynnhurst Cemetery

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