Thomas David Chrestman was born in Orange County, California to Thomas and Doris Chrestman, the youngest of three children. When Tom was in grammar school, his dad bought a truck and auto wrecking yard that became Tom’s playground. His dad would pay him to dismantle cars and trucks to sell the parts to customers. This is where his love and understanding of cars began. By the time he graduated high school, he had bought himself a wrecked Jaguar XKE, fixed it up, put a new engine in it, painted it red, and that’s what he picked Candy up in on their first date. Throughout his life, Tom has fixed and painted dozens of cars and trucks for friends, family and for himself.

Tom received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Cal State University in Long Beach. His first job was designing offshore oil platforms for an oil company. He spent time in Iran setting up these platforms.

He married Candice Weld in 1976, and they moved to Cottage Grove in 1978, had their first of 3 children 4 months after arriving in Oregon. Their children are Brianne, Tommy and Kamerin.

Tom began Cottage Grove Excavating shortly after arriving in Oregon and it quickly grew into a thriving business. After about 25 years, Tom began to buy fixer upper houses and develop rental properties.

But the real calling for Tom was sharing Jesus with others and helping anyone in need, often both at the same time. Tom was a faithful follower of Jesus throughout his life. He loved to attend or lead a Bible study, had a passion for missions, and took his family and countless others to a mission in Mexico. Tom organized groups to help clean up after hurricane Katrina, and he loved going to the local jail to share Jesus with the inmates.

Tom had a gift for fixing things; he could repair or fabricate almost anything. He had a great sense of humor. He enjoyed waterskiing, sailing, salmon fishing, and traveling with his best friend and beloved wife of 50 years. He loved, took great delight in, and wholeheartedly invested in his children, his 12 grandchildren, and his great granddaughter. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.