Thomas "Tom" Blink

Thomas Blink

71, of Cedar Lake, IN, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 28, 2026.  He is survived by his wife, Debbie; children, Joshua (Lindsey), Dustin (Lisa) and Ashlee (Kevin) Criner, all of Lowell; grandchildren, Olivia and Kenzington Blink; Emmry and Grady Blink; Krosby and Kerrington Criner; his siblings, Karen (Jim) Sietsma of Highland and Chuck (Carol) of MI. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin and Shirley. 

Following in his father’s footsteps, Tom began his career at Amoco and later retired from BP Whiting after more than 35 years of service. During his career, he worked as a pipefitter, in CAD design, and as a sluicer. 

Tom had a remarkable talent for building and creating. He could bring ideas and dreams to life with his own two hands. Tom and Debbie were high school sweethearts who shared 49 wonderful years of marriage. One of his proudest accomplishments was building their custom family home—a home filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.

Over the years, Tom also built barns, cabins, sheds, cabinets, furniture, and countless other creations. His workshop was a special place where he spent many hours doing what he loved, often with his dog, Josie, by his side. For many years, Tom and Debbie hosted craft shows on their property, selling their handmade creations and sharing their love of primitive pieces with others.

As much as Tom loved creating, his most treasured moments were spent simply being Papa. He loved watching and cheering on his grandchildren at their many sporting events and took great pride in always being there for them.

Tom leaves behind far more than the things he built. He leaves a legacy of love, hard work, creativity, and devotion to his family. His greatest creation was the life he built with those he loved, and the pieces he made with his own hands will be cherished for generations to come.

A Visitation will be held on October 13, from 3-7 at Sheets Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Lowell.

sheetsfuneral.com

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