Thomas Allen Peek

Thomas Allen Peek

November 10, 1961 – December 18, 2022

The family of Tom Peek is saddened to announce that Tom died on Sunday, December 18 after a brief illness and much too soon. He was 61.

The youngest of four children born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Robert and Linda Peek, Tom was many things, but preeminent among them was his service as a Marine.

Lance Corporal Peek did one stint which had a lasting and positive impact on him for the rest of his life. In his person and his living arrangements he was always ship shape and ready to go.

Throughout his life, before, during and after wearing the cammies, Tom was a storyteller. He could hold a room full of people in thrall to his tales. It did not matter if it was a dramatic recollection of a training exercise or just crossing the street, he could bring the house down with a well turned phrase or perfect punch line. Tom’s capacity for sound effects, voices and mimicry made his stories an experience not to be missed.

Tom lived most of his life in Indianapolis and a few years in Toronto, Canada in the early 1970s. He was a big fan of the Speedway and of the 500, especially when he scored tickets on the second turn. Here was a man who could give you chapter and verse on the various champions, their cars and evolving racing technology. Tom loved cars and one of his many jobs was as a photographer of classic cars.

Tom also had a lifelong interest in airplanes that he inherited from his father. He built models, visited museums, attended air shows and grooved on aeronautic factoids.

He could fix things and he knew how to find deals for anything: food, books, car parts, you name it, he had a source or knew the way.

Among his family, Tom was affectionately known as ‘Zif’. This nickname derived from a swimming aid known as the Ziffer Board. When he was a small child and the family was at Harrison Lake, Tom and the Ziffer Board were inseparable and so ‘Zif’ was born. It still seems a perfect name after all these years as Tom ziffed through life with his charm, wit and military background.

Tom was predeceased by his father Robert E. Peek (1999), his stepfather Robert E. Wessel, Sr. (2021) and brother Randy Peek (2022). Tom is survived by his mother, Linda Garber Wessel of Indianapolis; his sisters Jane Coates (David) and Mindy McKen (Charles Hain), all of Toronto; stepsiblings Christa Wessel (Darrell Hanks) of Portland, Oregon and Rob Wessel (Lulu Tupper) of Fort Collins, Colorado; nephew Chris Coates (Melissa Bryanton) of Toronto, niece and nephew Roxi and Gib Wessel of Fort Collins, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Tom had a special relationship with Aunt Anne & Uncle Tom Davis of Greenwood, Indiana.

A memorial service will take place early in the new year, with interment at Marion National Cemetery.

The family wishes to express its deep and sincere gratitude to the staff at the VA Hospital in Indianapolis for ensuring Tom’s care and comfort in his final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Wheeler Mission of Indianapolis in Tom’s memory.

Semper Fi.