Former Lemont resident Thomas James (TJ) Polen passed away on August 24, 2023. He was born to Jeff and Cherie Polen on June 1, 2005, in Hinsdale, IL. He attended Old Quarry Middle School and then Lemont High School through the end of his junior year. His family then moved from Lemont to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Polen graduated in 2023 with honors from South Doyle High School in Knoxville, TN, receiving numerous academic and cross-country/track scholarship offers, and ultimately chose to attend the University of Tennessee.
His family notes that he was a brilliant young man and an avid learner who earned the distinction of being named an Illinois State Scholar during his high school career. He was also an accomplished runner. After his move to Tennessee, he was ranked 29th among all high school senior runners in the state of Tennessee. He enjoyed all things outdoors, especially hiking and fishing, and loved traveling with his family and visiting National Parks.
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Polen is preceded in death by his grandfather and namesake, James Bates; uncle and aunt, Richard and Frankie Bates. He is survived by his parents, Jeff and Cherie Polen; sister, Abbey; both grandmothers, Shelia Powell and Michele Kull; aunts, Sarah Bennett, Jamie Hopper, Sandy DeWitt, and Jessica Bates; uncles, Kevin Polen and Jeremy Joiner; cousins and numerous teammates and friends.
A "receiving of friends" visitation will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home at 2300 West Adair Drive in Knoxville, TN, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. A funeral service will follow at noon.
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The family invites everyone to their home after the service for a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations to the South Doyle High School track and cross-country program.
