Gary Timmer was born at home in Rock County, Minnesota, on April 21, 1933, to Esdert and Everdena (Jongerious) Timmer. He was the second of eight siblings. The family eventually moved to a farm south of Steen, Minnesota, where he attended country school, graduating from Rock Rapids High School in 1951. One of his fondest memories was at 15 years old, when he earned the privilege of getting a team shirt and pitching for the Steen men's fast-pitch softball team.

Gary graduated from Central College, in Pella, Iowa, in 1955, where he majored in math. He was involved in student government, played basketball, ran track and worked in the cafeteria. He spent his summers working for the railroad. Following graduation, he began his work in sales in Des Moines and later Fort Dodge. He met Maurine Thorson in June of 1956, while grocery shopping in Fort Dodge. Maurine was home for summer break from Augustana College (Sioux Falls). He invited her to dinner, and on June 8, 1957, they were married. He and Maurine lived in Fort Dodge, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux Falls before moving to Pella.

In 1970, Gary was offered a position as the Vice President of Development at his alma mater, Central College. He was passionate about all things Central – especially athletics – and seldom missed a home event. One of his biggest joys was building relationships with students, alumni, colleagues, and donors. He took pride in watching the campus landscape change with each new building built, eliminating the college's debt, and growing the endowment. His Central friends were so important to him, and Sunday nights were reserved for playing bridge with the Schippers, Bosches and Thieses. He and Maurine hosted ten alumni tours to a variety of countries throughout his tenure at Central.

Following his retirement in 1993, he was asked to consult on many local fundraising campaigns, served on many boards, and was instrumental in creating the Pella chapter of Dollars for Scholars and the Pella Community Foundation. Gary was a 20-year volunteer to the Pella Historical Society where he gave windmill tours. He was a loyal member of Second Reformed Church and was involved in numerous Reformed Church starts around the state. He and Maurine also found time to winter in Arizona where they worked on their golf games.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, John; sister-in-law, RaeJean Timmer; brother-in-law, Charlie Reisig; brother-in-law, Richie Schembri and special friends, Harold and Mavis Geisler.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Maurine, son Craig and Susan Timmer of Indianapolis and their children JT (Katie) of New Haven, CT, and Kirsten (Zach) of Denver, CO; son Kyl Timmer and Genji of Tokyo, Japan; daughter Sheri and John Roslien of Pella and their children, Kylie (Travis) and their daughter, Sienna, of Bettendorf; Aanna (Jaden) of Ankeny; six siblings and their families: Leroy (AZ), Edwin (WI), Diane (AZ), Rosie (MO), Linda (AZ), Stan (TX); and five exchange students they hosted and loved over the years: Tuki (Japan), Gianni (Italy), Christian (Norway), Wakana (Japan) and Ting (China).

On April 5, Gary died peacefully at The Comfort House in Pella knowing he was loved. His body was donated to the Deeded Body Program at University of Iowa.

Central Club at Central College
Pella IA