Thomas Alfred Engdahl, 75, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, August 1, 2024. He was born March 19, 1949 in Evanston, Illinois to Alfred Engdahl and Ruth Engdahl. As a child, he grew up in Parkridge, IL and the family moved to Lake Forest, IL when Tom was a sophomore. He was an avid tennis player and golfer starting in his high school years and continuing into his 74th year. Tom graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1967 and enrolled in his beloved University of Michigan where he graduated with a master's degree in industrial engineering. To say Tom was a dedicated fan of The Maize & Blue is an understatement. Watching them become the 2023 NCAA Football National Champions brought him such joy.

While growing up in Illinois the family vacationed at various resorts in Wisconsin during the summer months. Tom also attended Boy Scout Camp in Wild Rose, WI for many years. The family then discovered Watervale Resort on Lower Herring Lake in Arcadia, Ml. They fell in love with the beauty of the small lake and the access to the gorgeous sand dune beaches of Lake Michigan. The family returned each summer where Tom met and made life-long friends. He worked there while in college scrubbing pots and pans in the Inn. Watervale became a multi-generational happy place for all the Engdahl's.

Upon graduation from the University of Michigan, Tom accepted a position with Procter & Gamble in Green Bay, WI. He started in Charmin toilet tissue and rose through the ranks becoming Group Manager in Papermaking at the East River Plant. It was there he made friends with a colleague that grew into a love story. In 1984 Tom was recruited by Brown Printing Company in Waseca, MN. Tom married his best friend and this specific colleague Cynthia Jeanne Link on June 23, 1984 After honeymooning at their own cottage on Lower Herring Lake, Michigan they moved to Waseca, MN where Tom ran the printing department. Brown Printing was the 3rd largest magazine and catalog printer in the Country and were owned by a German Company, Gruner & Jahr an arm of Bertelsmann, one of the world's largest media conglomerates.

In 1986 Tom was transferred to Franklin, KY to run the rotogravure printing department of Brown Printing which required a short stint in ltzehoe, West Germany from April to September 1986. Tom & Cindy had quite the adventure while living in West Germany and made many friends. In addition to his technical training on this new printing process, Tom and Cindy found time for travel throughout West Germany, into East Germany and East and West Berlin. Training for Tom took them to southern West Germany which included some exploring there as well. They also visited Denmark and the Netherlands.

Tom rose through the ranks at the Franklin, KY rotogravure plant to VP of Operations. That arm of Brown Printing was sold in 1997. Tom wanting to continue with Brown Printing took the family to Chicago as Tom entered the role of VP of Sales. After four years in the Chicago area, Tom was promoted to COO of Brown Printing Company and the family relocated to Minnesota. Soon after this transition, Tom was promoted to President & CEO of Brown Printing Company where he stayed until his retirement in 2010.

During his tenure as President & CEO, Tom and Cindy were fortunate enough to represent Brown Printing Company at many conferences and events. Highlights include attending the Super Bowl Game in New Orleans in January 1997 where they cheered their Green Bay Packers to victory over the New England Patriots. They attended the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 and the Summer Olympics in Athens Greece in August 2004.

While at Brown Printing Tom distinguished himself among the printing community of the United States being elected to the Print Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame In Recognition of His Outstanding Contribution to the Graphic Arts Industry by Printing Impressions Magazine and Rochester Institute of Technology. He was also featured with a cover article on Connect Business Magazine in May 2002. His leadership was highly regarded by all who worked for and with him and he is spoken highly of still.

Tom & Cindy were blessed to adopt their loving daughter, Claire, in October 1991. She is the joy of their lives and gave them five wonderful grandchildren after her marriage to Jacob Zimmerman.

Tom and Cindy retired to their dream location on Lower Herring Lake in March 2012. Tom was an avid fisherman, golfer and tennis player. He would tell you it seemed he did nothing but shovel and plow lake-effect snow for nine months of the year. Our lovely lake rises and falls at the same rate as Lake Michigan connected by an outlet. Depending which way the wind blew, the outlet would close and our lake levels suffered and basement flooding ensued. Tom worked diligently "digging out the outlet" on a daily basis - rain, sun or snow. He started a tradition that inspired t-shirts and permanent shovels at the outlet. Tom had life-long friends who all returned to this beautiful area in retirement. Friends from his family days and working days at Watervale Resort also returned to the resort yearly for "their week(s)" and they entertained them often. One of Tom & Cindy's favorite activities was a "cocktail cruise" or "putt-putt" around Lower Herring Lake before dinner. Tom would dare you to find more spectacular sunsets than those he witnessed over Lower Herring Lake and Lake Michigan.

Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2014 but that didn't slow him down. He continued to play golf until tremors would not allow him to place a ball upon the tee. He played tennis up until the last ten months of his life. Tom also tried to get a mile walk in per day. Then a diagnosis of Alzheimer's was added in February 2024 which was difficult to bear, but Tom continued to move forward until he physically could move no longer.

Tom is survived by his wife, Cynthia (Cindy) Link Engdahl, his daughter Claire Zimmerman, her husband, Jacob. Four grandsons, Isaiah, Wyatt, Bradley & Nathan and a granddaughter Addison Zimmerman. He is also survived by sisters Mary & Jane Engdahl and brother John (Brenda) Engdahl.  He is further survived by two sisters-in-law, Julia Wayerski and Jayne Link and her husband, Dennis Grove; one brother-in-law, Scott Link, PhD; nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by one daughter, Sarah Engdahl; parents, Al & Ruth Engdahl and parents-in­-law Ralph & Betty Link.

A private viewing for family members will be held at Blaney Funeral Home. Tom will then be returned to his beloved Michigan for a funeral on Monday, August 12 at St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, 783 Beulah Hwy, Beulah, Ml from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Funeral Service will begin at 11 a.m. at the church with burial to follow at Blaine Township Cemetery. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Cindy Engdahl for a memorial bench to be placed at Jack & Engrid Meng Hospice Residence in Tom's honor. Tom's family would like to thank the caring, compassionate staff at Meng Hospice Residence. They are truly angels here on earth.