Thomas J. Hellinga, 60, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on May 7, 2026. Born on September 1, 1965 in La Porte, IN, Tom was the son of Roger and Sally (Beagles) Hellinga.

Tom proudly graduated from Northridge High School in 1984 and went on to earn his diesel mechanic certification. In 1986, Tom married his high school sweetheart, Julie Merrick, at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Elkhart. Together, they raised their three children, Nick, Jake, and Samantha; as their families grew, Tom welcomed the role of being a grandpa with open arms. He loved having the family come together frequently and enjoyed taking his grandchildren on Jeep and golf cart rides around their neighborhood. Their family spent quality time together on road trips through many states, never taking an airplane so he could show his family new places.

Starting in 1997, Tom held a dedicated career at Digger Specialties where he was instrumental in their growth through the years. He started as their first full-time truck driver and went on to serve as their plant manager. Most recently, Tom worked as their Quality Control and Safety Manager. Tom also worked as a dispatcher with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department in addition to volunteering with the Plymouth Fire Department as an EMT in the rescue squad.

In his free time, Tom was an avid Green Bay Packers and Notre Dame fan. On a sunny summer day, Tom meticulously cared for his lawn. He was known to mow multiple times a day to achieve perfection, or to potentially avoid additional projects around the house. He was also a member of Ducks Unlimited.

Tom instilled important life lessons to those he loved: delegate where you can, don’t worry about things you cannot control, and to care deeply for your family. He leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter for those who knew and loved him.

Tom will be missed by his beloved wife of 40 years, Julie; son, Nick Hellinga and his children, Cameron and Harlow; son, Jake (Stacy) Hellinga and their children, Megan, Merrick, Andrew, Emily, and Daniel; daughter, Samantha (Adam) Thompson and their son, Theodore; parents, Roger and Sally; and sister, Tamara (Jeff) Graber.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 4-7PM at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN 46563. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026 at 10AM at the funeral home with Pastor Ron Russell and Loren “Digger” Graber officiating. Visitation will resume at 9AM.

In honor of Tom, memorial contributions can be made to the Marshall County Cancer Association, PO Box 895, Plymouth, IN 46563.