Criss Jay Uithoven

February 9, 1964 - March 6, 2022

Criss Jay Uithoven, age 58, entered eternal rest on March 6, 2022. Born to Glenda and Donald Uithoven in La Mesa, CA on February 9, 1964, Criss grew up in El Cajon, CA where he attended Lexington Elementary, Cajon Valley Junior High, and El Cajon Valley High School. Criss then when on to attend the University of Redlands, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business, an MBA, and a Masters in Education Counselling. Criss was a member of the U of R’s Chi Sigma Chi Fraternity. The U of R is also where he met his future wife and best friend in life, Linda (Schulman) Uithoven. Criss loved playing sports in his youth. He played baseball and football as well as did shotput and discuss in Track and Field, Criss, among many things, loved the competition and comradery that came with sports. Criss had recently retired in June 2021 after a 30-year career teaching in the Colton School District. In his time as a teacher, Criss taught math, physical education, and most recently computer keyboarding. Criss also spent a few years at Colton High where he had the opportunity to fulfill a dream of coaching baseball. Criss had a great sense of humor, always making jokes whenever he could to make someone else smile. Above all, family and friends were the most essential elements to his life. Criss was deeply proud of the life and family he had built with Linda. And if you spent any significant time with him, Criss considered you family. Beyond his friends and family, Criss also had deep love for his hometown sports teams including the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Chargers (but not the LA Chargers). Criss loved watching and attending NASCAR Races. He loved cheering on his favorite players and drivers. Criss especially loved watching and cheering for anyone he knew personally playing professional or school sports. Criss was everyone’s biggest cheerleader. Being an amateur photographer, Criss could always be seen taking photos on the sideline of games and other events. Criss loved going camping with his family and being in the outdoors. Rain or shine, you could find him grilling breakfast or dinner for his family and friends. During his retirement Criss was also taking up gardening, getting lessons from his mom. Criss was learning how to plant Christmas Cactus so he could give them to all his friends at Christmas. Criss lived a humble life full of infinite love and service to his friends and family. Criss truly lived up to the saying “A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet”. Criss leaves behind his wife, Linda, his two daughters, Jessica and Jennifer, his mother, Glenda Uithoven and his younger brother Bob Uithoven (wife, Jennifer). Criss was preceded in death by his father, Donald Uithoven, and his beloved nephew, Parker Miller Uithoven. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday March 19, 2022 at 10am, at Wildwood Calvary Chapel, 35145 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, CA 92399. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in the name of Criss Jay Uithoven. The family is requesting donations to be made in Criss’s name to the University of Redlands. Donations can be made online via https://redlands.edu/givenow or checks can be mailed to Office of Advancement 1200 E Colton Ave, Redlands, Ca 92373 (please note in the Memory of Criss Uithoven). Or if you prefer donations can also be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN. 38105 or visit https://stjude.org/giving.