A. John Timmerman 8/20/2015

Albert John Timmerman,  (known as John),  New Richmond, WI, died  August 20, 2015 at the age 70 at the American Heritage Care Center, Hammond, WI after a short battle with cancer.  John was born to Albert G. and Margaret L. (Pepper) Timmerman in River Falls, WI on April 29, 1945 and was raised on the Timmerman farm located in the Glover area northwest of River Falls.   He is survived by his wife, Kay, of New Richmond, WI and also by his parents.  He is also survived by his four siblings, Harley (Sue), Hudson, Jean (Del) Wacker, Chetek, George (Susanne), Las Cruces, NM, and Margaret Ann (Nick Parker), Anchorage, AK.  Also surviving are sister-in-laws, Judy Berends, Karen, Anton, Colleen Quist and brother-in-law, Jim Sager.  John is further survived by nieces and nephews of several generations, twenty first cousins and many friends from all walks of life.
     John was the eldest of seventeen grandchildren of George E. (Sr.) and Vivian Timmerman, River Falls, WI, and one of ten grandchildren of his mother’s parents, Wilbert and Mabel (Hansen) Pepper, ofTony, WI.  All grandparents preceded him in death, as did Kay’s parents, Mary and Dick Sager, brother-in-law, Dave Berends and nephew, Joe Berends.  
     John received his formal education at the rural Glover School and in the River Falls Public School system.  In 1960, he was confirmed in the United Methodist Church, River Falls.  In 1962, John entered into a four year enlistment in the Air Force, completing basic training in Amarillo, TX, and was stationed in Anchorage, AK, where he witnessed and survived the 1964 Good Friday earthquake (9.4 Richter scale).  His last assignment was in Sembach, Germany.
     On May 7, 1966, John married Katherine M. (Kay) Sager of New Richmond, WI and they observed their 49th anniversary earlier this year.  Kay had the good fortune to stay with John at Hammond during the final few weeks of his life.
     John’s adult life can best be described as a “great adventure” as he never backed away from new vocations.  His military time in Alaska spurred his interest to return and spend two decades there, during which time he captained a crewed fishing boat off the coast of Alaska,  raised and raced sled dogs, guided hunting trips into the back country of Alaska, and plied his trade in dairy farming, to name just a few. 
     When the time seemed appropriate, John and Kay returned to New Richmond, WI, where John again gathered no moss.  He had a career as an over-the–road truck driver (often with Kay by his side) and then drove short haul for River States.  He also delivered fertilizer for Precision Ag in the New Richmond area in the spring.
John raced vintage cars at various tracks in Wisconsin and Minnesota including Cedar Lake Speedway, always accompanied by Kay.  In the past five years, John decided to take up the guitar and would sit in on jams wherever they took place.  John continued his love of the outdoors with fishing and hunting activities.   He was a proud member of the New Richmond American Legion Post 80.
     For all of his bravado, John had a tender heart and will be remembered for meaningful and sensitive letters and phone calls he wrote and made to relatives during times of trouble or decline.
     A memorial service was held on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at 12 noon, at the Bakken-Young Funeral Chapel, 112 W. 3rd Street, New Richmond, WI with Pastor Lori Peper of Barron, WI officiating.  Visitation preceded the service from 11am-12pm. Music was provided by friends from Brickhouse Music of River Falls and This Old Store of Star Prairie.  Military honors were performed by American Legion Post 80.  Interment took place on Thursday, August 27, 2015, at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran’s Cemetery in Spooner, WI.  Memorials to the family are preferred. Arrangements were made by Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services, River Falls and New Richmond.