Timothy Taaffe

Tim participated in electrical apprenticeships while in high school. Before joining the Air Force, Tim was the chief mechanic for a group leasing vehicles to the Post Office. On occasion he flew with the boss from Monterey to outlying post offices to effect repairs in situ. These credentials landed him a spot in the Air Force where he served for four years. He found himself in the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. When he returned home from the war he moved to Florida where he began his electrical business, which he ran for some twenty years.

Tim met and worked for Jeff Graves and Ray Becker who owned, amongst other properties, a shopping center in Tampa, Florida. Jeff and Ray recruited Tim to commute to Peoria for projects at the Twin Towers, the Jefferson building, Landmark Center, and several other properties for several years. On one of his business trips, he met the love of his life, Sher, in the late 1990's and decided to relocate to Peoria on the spot. He lived in the Towers and continued to do projects for its residents until he and Sher began their passion project to renovate their dream home. His final project was to install solar panels at their home which he completed mere months before his passing.

Tim didn't know a stranger. If you had more than a five-minute conversation with him, he uncovered and then found a way to leverage your talents and connect you with someone who needed those talents. He could solve almost any problem and if he didn't have the answer, he knew someone who did. His ornery sense of humor and wit made him easy to talk to.

Tim was preceded in death by both of his parents and his sister, Martha. He leaves to cherish memories, his brother Mike (Tami) Taaffe, his daughter Christina, the love of his life Sher Balzell, and countless friends in the Peoria community and across the country.

Per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Tim's celebration of life will be held at the Twin Towers Place Community Room on September 27, 2025 from 4-7 PM. Tim was passionate about diabetes awareness and education. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements are under the care of Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel & Parkview Cemetery.