Edwin J. Timm

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan. Interment will take place privately at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, the American Cancer Society or the Lions Eye Bank. Hodgson Funeral Home, Rock Island, is assisting the family.

Edwin J. Timm was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 27, 1921, to John J. and Elsie B. Rathje Timm. After his graduation from Franklin High School in that city, his college years were interrupted by World War II. The resulting four-year tour of duty in the Navy included his participation in the Philippine Liberation Campaign.

After graduating from Coe College in Cedar Rapids in 1947, he began his 34-year teaching career in Toledo, Iowa. He married Audrey Jean Hubner on June 6, 1948. His next teaching positions were in the Iowa communities of Wapello and Tipton.

After earning a master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1958, he joined the instrumental music instruction staff of Rock Island Public Schools and continued in that capacity until he retired in 1981.

During his lifelong membership in the Lutheran Church, he served in many capacities. During his retirement years he also pursued his interest in U.S. Naval history. As a result of this avocation, he and Mrs. Timm were invited guests aboard the USS Constitution for the historic ship's July 4, 1988, turnaround cruise in Boston Harbor. Mr. Timm was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan, and the Illinois Retired Teachers Association.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Audrey, Rock Island; sons and daughters-in-law, John and Patricia Timm, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Robert Timm, Moline; a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Robert Rauh, East Moline; six grandchildren, two great-grandsons; and eight nieces and nephews.

Mr. Timm was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Barbara L. Timm and Catherine M. Moore.

Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.hodgsonfuneralhome.com.