Russell Henri Van Der Meiren

South Portland - Russell (Hank) Van Der Meiren, 47, died suddenly on Friday, March 9, 2018. Russell was born on December 6, 1970, in Summit, NJ, a son of Robert Van Der Meiren Sr. and Mary Lou Kimball. Hank moved to South Portland when he was three and here he attended local schools. While attending high school he worked as a marine mechanic. When he was 17, Hank was in a serious accident that he survived despite all expectations, the accident prevented him from completing high school, but Hank was a determined man, and in 1989 he received his GED. After receiving his degree, Hank worked as an auto mechanic and worked his way up to being a supervisor. In his free time he enjoyed boating, hunting and sharing his hobby of racing and modifying RC cars with his son Jeffrey. He also enjoyed knowing the intricacies of guns. Hank would take the guns he owned apart and put them back together, as well as making his own ammunition. On more than one occasion he tried to convince his family members to go to the shooting range with him. Hank was a kind and gentle person who had no enemies. Everyone loved him because he was always trying to make others laugh. He was always the first one there to help a friend. Hank was very proud of his two children, Jeffrey and Lily. Hank's love also extended to his dog, Jack. Jack was going to be put down, and Hank rescued him and trained him. It was not just dogs that he loved. Hank used to say, "some people are dog people, some people are cat people, I'm an animal person." In support of Hank's love of animals, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Animal Refuge League, PO Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098. Hank was predeceased by grandparents, Warren and Mary Kimball, Maurice and Barbara Van Der Meiren; and Aunt Rae Kimball. He is survived by his mother, Mary Lou Kimball of Scarborough; his father, Robert Van Der Meiren, Sr. of NJ; two children, Jeffrey and Lily Van Der Meiren, and their mother Kim Leavitt, all of Standish; two brothers, Robert Van Der Meiren, Jr. and wife Tammie of South Portland, Jeffrey Van Der Meiren and his wife Tiffany of Portland; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins; and his beloved dog, Jack. Visiting hours and a Celebration of Hank's life will be held from 4:00-7:00PM on Thursday, March 15, 2018, at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Burial will follow at a later date.