Timothy Mark Tauer

Timothy Mark Tauer passed away peacefully in the early hours of November 6, 2025, with his eldest daughter, Heather, at his side. After a brief four-month battle with brain cancer, he went home to the Lord. We take comfort in knowing he is reunited with Pauline, his beloved wife whom he missed dearly after her passing in May, as well as his parents, his older brother Michael, and his youngest sister Kimberly.

Born on April 3, 1946, in Bismarck, North Dakota, Tim was the second son of Otto and Doreen Tauer. Otto served as a pilot in the United States Air Force, and the family moved frequently, living both in the U.S. and abroad, including two separate tours in Japan. On their second deployment to Japan, Otto and Doreen chose to live off base, immersing their family in the local community. That decision helped shape Tim’s lifelong sense of adventure, openness to the world around him, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

As a young man, he climbed Mount Fuji multiple times and spent summers in Alaska working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doing land surveying, where he had more than a few memorable encounters with bears. After graduating from the University of North Dakota in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Tim hoped to join the Air Force and become a test pilot. However, during his final physical, severely elevated blood pressure led to a hospital stay and ultimately prevented him from pursuing a military career.

Redirecting his ambitions to the business world, Tim held early positions in Denver and Chicago before helping his mother move his three sisters to San Antonio, Texas. He then launched his career in the oil industry in Houston, where he met the love of his life, Pauline.

After a few years of dating, Tim and Pauline were married on September 2, 1972. They welcomed their first daughter, Heather, a little over a year later on November 17, 1973, and their second daughter, Courtney, on July 13, 1976. Both Tim and Pauline valued family deeply and embraced a traditional family model, with Tim as the primary provider and Pauline devoting herself full-time to being a wife and mother.

To provide for his family, Tim’s career took them to locations both domestic and international, including assignments in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Mexico City, Mexico. These roles not only highlighted his success as an executive but also allowed him to share with his family the same spirit of adventure and broad world view he had cherished in his own upbringing.

Throughout his career, Tim’s analytical mind and strong leadership skills made him an exceptional executive in turnaround management across multiple industries—from Baker Hughes Oil Tools to the multi-conglomerate Harsco Corporation. He was highly effective at improving profitability and operational efficiency, yet he never lost sight of the human element. Tim believed in building not only strong businesses but also strong people. The growth and success of those who worked for him were the achievements he prized most.

Tim retired from corporate life in 1996 while he and Pauline were living in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Wanting to be closer to family and friends, they moved back to the Houston area. In 1997, they discovered Bentwater, a community they quickly came to love and where Tim could indulge in one of his favorite pastimes—golf—right outside his back door. He became active in the Men of Bentwater (MOB) and other neighborhood groups, forming many lifelong friendships that, over time, became more like family.

After a few years of golf, Tim’s active mind sought new challenges. In 2003, when a former employee and friend asked him to consult on a project with Aldine ISD, Tim’s systematic approach to evaluating operational effectiveness and efficiency found a new purpose. From that opportunity, his passion project was born, and Tim founded Education Resource Group, Inc.

Having worked in Brazil in the 1980s, where the average person received less than four years of formal education, Tim saw firsthand how critical education is—not only to the success of businesses, but to the very fabric of democracy. Since its founding, ERG has stood as a testament to Tim’s commitment to education, and he has been widely regarded as a champion for improving educational systems.

In 2022, when Pauline’s health needs became his highest priority, Tim turned the business over to his daughters and partners. Caring for his soulmate was, in his eyes, his greatest calling. Her passing on May 30, 2025, broke his heart.

A month after losing Pauline, Tim was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. Ever determined, he faced his illness with courage and a fierce desire to remain present for his daughters. During his treatment, he lived with Courtney, whose care brought him great comfort. The support of neighbors and friends—who drove him to appointments, sat with him, and lifted him up in countless ways—offered an invaluable sense of solace during his final months.

Tim is survived by his daughters, Heather Reid and Courtney Tauer; his brother Brad and wife Joan; his sisters Cheri Seabers (husband John) and Michelle Ferrara (husband Greg); his brother-in-law Alfred Stryk and wife Marie; and his sister-in-law Evelyn Kassey and husband Michael. Also dear to him were Pauline’s stepsisters: Earline Rais (husband Joe), Janet Ickert (husband Larry), and Theresa Nelson (husband Michael). Coming from a large Catholic family on both sides, Tim also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, and nephews who were very dear to him.

A celebration of Tim’s life will be held at Cashner Funeral Home in Conroe, beginning with a visitation at 5:00 p.m. on December 9, followed by a rosary at 6:30 p.m. Tim requested that guests come dressed casually in bright colors. A funeral Mass will be held on December 10 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Plantersville, followed by a reception.