Timothy "Tim" P. Pertler

Son of Violet Elizabeth (Carr), and Donald Roy Pertler, he was born December 27, 1954, in Flint, Michigan. He graduated Swartz Creek High School in 1973. He earned his Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Anderson College in 1977 and his Master’s Degree from Ball State University in Muncie a few years later.

Tim actually wanted to be a Sportswriter, but his first assignment was sent to a small school in Henry County, in Middletown, Shenandoah. More on that school later. After getting lost on his way back to Anderson he talked to God and was called to the education field. After talking with long time family friends Sherrill and Phyllis Hayes and Norm and Lou Beard, he believed that he could make an impact in Early Education as a male.

Tim ultimately met his bride to be Kathryn Joy Smith in December 1974 at the Candles and Carols concert at Anderson College. He and Kathy were married on June 4, 1977. Today, December 4, 2024, marks their 47 and half wedding anniversary.

Tim and Kathy were blessed with their one and only child, a son, Andrew Steven, on May 21, 1981.

Tim accepted a teaching job in the Fall of 1977 at Middletown Elementary School as a second-grade teacher. Middletown eventually fed in to, yup you guessed it, Shenandoah High School. Tim always felt that the Good Lord has a sense of humor.

Tim was known as a teacher who made learning fun and entertaining as one former student said. Many students indicated that Tim was awesome, funny, and was never mad. Tim was the cool teacher at recess always pushing kids super high on the swing set and always there with a warm hug.

Tim retired from teaching in May 1999, the same time Andy graduated high school.

Tim was a deeply beloved father, uncle, grandfather, cousin, brother, and friend. Tim loved his Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings and University of Michigan Wolverines! Go Blue!

On April 29, 2014, Tim became a grandfather to Gabriel Xavier Pertler-Souchet. He loved reading books and teaching Gabriel many aspects of life and being a Wolverine.

Tim enjoyed growing Bird of Paradise flowers, an avid reader of Peanuts and authors such as J. B. Phillips, Mitch Albom among others. Tim also enjoyed music from The Carpenters, Neil Diamond and Jackie Evancho. He loved to watch TV, play games such as Yahtzee and as a kid listen to Ernie Harwell call Detroit Tiger baseball games on his transistor radio.

He was preceded to heaven by his mother and father, aunts and uncles, his brother Terry, and his beloved Samoyed, Sugar. He is survived by Kathy, Andy (wife Julia of Indianapolis) and Gabriel his grandson and his other brother Rick, Cousin Trea among others.

While we have lost a beloved husband, father, and grandfather many have lost a friend and loved one in him. He has been a rock to many, a master at sarcastic humor and witty timing to others, and even sometimes a glorious pain in the butt, to what I'm sure is a small select few (because no matter what happened between you in your lives, once you were marked as important to him, he'd be by your side if you needed him). There was so much more to him than just husband, dad or grandpa, though to us that was his greatest role - he was also a friend, a coworker and colleague, a cousin, brother, the list goes on and on.

It was his wish that we laugh and reminisce and smile together during this time.

Donations to the Marion County Animal Shelter would be greatly appreciated. Though Tim would have liked for everyone to wear maize and blue please dress as you normally would for a memorial service.

A visitation for Tim will be held Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 PM.