George Timmer

A little after midnight on Friday, December 3, 2021, George W. Timmer Jr passed away in his home surrounded by loved ones. George was born July 31, 1954 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to George William and Jacqueline Dal (Danielson) Timmer. At the time of his birth, his parents and sister, Sandra Dal, age 4, were living in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, north of Detroit, but shortly thereafter moved to Kalamazoo and then, in 1960 to Grand Rapids. George attended Michigan Oak Elementary, Northeast Junior High, and graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School in 1972, where he was an honor student. At Westminster Presbyterian Church and it's youth group, George's faith was formed through the fellowship and bonds formed on summer canoe trips and at Camp Henry. He decided to attend Alma College to study Religion and Theology. After two years at Alma, George felt a different calling and transferred to Michigan Tech to study Forestry and Surveying, and later Oberlin College to study business in pursuit of joining his father's insurance agency in Grand Rapids. In 1979, George W. Timmer & Son, Inc. was formed by George Sr. George Jr. soon became restless. He packed up his belongings, and set-off for a new life, destination unknown. He told his brother, Brian that he would probably end up in either Alaska or Arizona and that he'd call once he got there. He landed in Prescott, Arizona, and began a new life that would take him to Silver City, New Mexico and settled in a small mountain town called Payson, Arizona. He became a skilled carpenter and cabinetmaker, like his great-grandfather, Geert Willem Timmer before him, and married Linda Sue Clark, in March 11 of 1986. They raised two sons and one daughter. He enjoyed baseball, music, his trucks and his workshop. He loved hatch green chili and appreciated a great hot dog. He was notoriously funny and made easy friends. George was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sandra Dal Gohkle, his Uncle James Jacobus Timmer, his Aunts Alyce Elaine Timmer, Bernita (J. Leighton) Carson, Clarabelle (Olin) Lutes, Catherine (Robert) Offenhauer, cousins Catherine (Eddie) Burchell and Andrew Eklund. He is survived by his children Abram (Ashley) Timmer, Rachel (David) Gilliland, Nathan McAtee, grandchildren, Lillian, Hannah, Haley and Katrina, his brother Brian Timmer, nephew Jonah Delongchamp, nieces Paige, (Brian) Knott and Abby, (Bailey Hornsby) Timmer, his Aunt Nanette Eklund and cousins Don (Leigh) Andersen, Jim (Brenda) Andersen, Sally (Steven) Sawin, Frida (John) Maiers and Timmerly Eklund. His funeral service will be held at 4 pm on 12/11/21 at Plainfield Baptist Church 1750 Woodworth St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. It will be streaming at www.pbcgr.com/live for those who are unable to join in person. Please send flowers to the Plainfield Baptist Church or donate to Donate Life America in honor of the lung transplant that gave George a second chance at life that he never took for granted. “Our Heavenly Father gave us a world full of wonder and mystery to enjoy forever.” – Papa George