Thomas Peter Bluekens

Thomas Peter Bluekens passed away Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital with his loving wife of 64 years by his side, and a room full of family surrounding him with love. Thomas was the patriarch of a large family, who all looked to him for guidance, love, and support.

Thomas was born Jan. 9, 1936, in Everett, Washington, to Frederick and Dorothy Bluekens. Growing up in Everett, he was very close to his grandparents, Peter and Kathleen Bluekens, who came over from Holland. The love he was shown from his grandparents and parents he never forgot, and the memories of them would touch his heart deeply each and every time they came to mind.

At age 7, he contracted spinal meningitis which left him stone deaf. Going through school, he was an avid reader and exceeded in his studies, and at age 16, he boarded a train, and all by himself, rode all the way to Washington, D.C. to attend Gallaudet University. Thomas studied for two years until he traveled to Fairbanks with his dad, who worked for Clear Air Force base, and met the love of his life, Barbara Jane Mayo.

Thomas and Barbara were married Sept. 21, 1954, and moved to Tacoma, Washington. Mom became homesick for Alaska, so in November of 1965, they loaded up their four children and drove the Alcan Highway back to Fairbanks, where a job with the Civil Service was waiting for him at Fort Wainwright. In Indian way, they were blessed with their fifth child, and Fairbanks became their permanent home, where all their generations of family live to this day.

Thomas was an accomplished man. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and eventually owned his own businesses, Tom's Custom Cabinets and Northern Specialty Woodworking, where he designed and made beautiful furniture and cabinets for businesses and homes, and instilled his artistry into all his work. He wrote a book titled, "The Glory," and the writing was so good that once you started reading, it was impossible to put down. His hobbies were poetry when he was younger, painting Alaskan landscapes, and stained glass. In the last five years, he tried his hand at making beautiful pendulum clocks that almost every child and grandchild has in their home. In all he did, he was tremendously talented, and it came natural to him.

Thomas will be truly missed and will leave a huge hole in so many hearts, but especially that of his loving wife, Barbara. He will be missed by his loyal companions, Mugsy and Peaches, who always got way more treats from him then they should have; his five children, 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews who will miss him so much. He was the head of our large family. His grandson Jimmy said it well: "It's ironic, for someone that was deaf, Grandpa was the best listener of anyone I ever knew."

Thomas P. Bluekens was preceded in death by his son, Leroy Bluekens; father Frederick Bluekens, mother Dorothy Bluekens, sister Marilyn Benedict, son-in-law Timothy Krupa, and daughter-in-law Pamela Bluekens.

He was survived by his family, beginning with his wife, Barbara J. Bluekens; daughter Brenda Krupa, daughter Kathy (Jim) Lydon, son Steven Bluekens, daughter Sally (Ted) Wicken; grandchildren Beverly Krupa, Bradley (Candice) Krupa, Jennifer (Matthew) Raymond, Chris (Tori) Lydon, Jimmy Lydon, Katrina Lydon, Alicia Lydon, Stephanie Bluekens, Brittaney Bluekens, Justin Bluekens, Daniel Carroll, Patricia (Thomas) Ollice, Carla Wicken, Cory Wicken, Travis Wicken, Tiffany Wicken; and great-grandchildren Blaize Herring, Summit Herring, Jovie Krupa, Tindra Krupa, Ava Ferguson, Cooper Raymond, Vivienne Raymond, Kyla Lydon, Ashlyn Lydon, Derrick Lydon, Cameron Lydon, Natasha Bluekens, Jordan Bluekens, Dan Junior Carroll, Darius Carroll, Cornelius Everett-Wicken, Julius Everett-Wicken; and niece Ruth (Wayne) Taggart, and sister-in-law Sally (Maurice) Patrick.

Visitation will be at noon, follwed by the funeral at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 1030 2nd Avenue. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be in the Parish Hall after the service until 5:30 p.m. Tea on Tuesday is planned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1863 Bridgewater Drive in the Aurora subdivision.