Jeffrey Thorne Van Etten

Jeffrey Thorne Van Etten of Point Pleasant, N.J., and formerly of Highland Mills, N.Y., devoted husband, father, son and brother died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and friends on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. He was 59.
The son of Ralph Van Etten and Frances Woodward Van Etten, he was born on June 29, 1958, in Cornwall.
Jeff started his business career at Opti-Quip in Highland Mills and continued in the lighting business for 40 years. He ended his highly successful business career at RST Visions in Color as the vice president of Marketing and Business Development.
He was a loving husband to Debi, loving father to Jeffrey, Kaitlin and April, loving grandfather to Olivia, Thomas, Mackenzie and Shea.
Jeff was a 1976 graduate of Monroe-Woodbury High School and graduated from Dominican College with a degree in business. He was a former member of the Woodbury Ambulance Corps.
He was an avid sports fan. He especially loved the Mets, Rangers, Giants, Knicks and horse racing. Jeff excelled in soccer, racquetball, baseball and golf. He was a true competitor.
Countless hours were spent on Weygant Hill playing and talking all kinds of sports with his father and brothers. He loved the beach and family barbeques.
During his lifetime, he touched many people with his love and kindness. He will be greatly missed.
He was a believer in Jesus Christ which gives us much comfort to know that he is home with his Heavenly Father.
He is survived by his devoted wife Debi of Point Pleasant, N.J., son Jeffrey Van Etten and his wife Stephanie of Goshen, daughter Kaitlin and her husband Chris Rouantree of Goshen and daughter April Elizabeth Young of Brick N.J.; grandchildren: Olivia and Thomas Bove, Mackenzie and Shea Rouantree.
He is also survived by his mother Frances Van Etten, in-laws George and Joan Bacher, brothers James (Diana) and John (Kathy) Van Etten, brothers-in-law George, Edward and Christopher Bacher, nieces and nephew Lynn, Suzanne, Matthew, Hannah and Sayde Van Etten, cousins: Pat Van Etten Dwyer, Barbara McCreanor, Robert McCreanor, Erica McCreanor, Dale Van Etten Temmel, Mark Van Etten, Carolyn and Bill Kyle, Chris Kyle, Keith Kyle, Charlotte Woodward, Matt Woodward, Marion Dorsey, Doug Woodward, Cindy Herritt, Sara Sellick, Bob Woodward and Scott Woodward. Aunts Georgiana and Lorraine Woodward and Gaye Van Etten.
He was predeceased by his father, Ralph Van Etten, uncles Howard and Robert Van Etten, Dave and Philip Woodward and his very special Aunt Dorothy Van Etten.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main St. in Freehold, N.J., followed by a funeral service in the funeral home at noon.
Burial will be at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, 299 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Freehold, N.J.
Donations in Jeff's name may be made to the Highland Mills United Methodist Church, 654 Route 32, Highland Mills, NY 10930.