Tim was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Francis and Amy (Knospe). He was schooled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and graduated high school at Campion Academy in Prairie du Chien, WI. Tim graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee before entering the University of Iowa Law School. Tim married Geraldine Wilson of Cedar Rapids in 1951.
While finishing law school, a family was started. Four children were born; Denise, Patti, Kathleen, and Tim. They were raised in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Greensboro, NC and then again Cedar Rapids, before finally landing in Des Moines. They had a great mom. After working as a claim adjuster and in the law field, Tim was appointed to the position of Assistant Linn County Attorney. In 1965 he was appointed by Attorney General Larry Scalise to be the Solicitor General of the State of Iowa. He served a two year term, later working with the Des Moines law firm of Davis, Huebner, Johnson and Burt.
Tim was hired by the four Catholic Bishops of Iowa as the Executive Director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, representing them before the Iowa Legislature. The important legislation that passed during his tenure included; Private School Aid Bill (1970), Busing of Iowa Private School Children (1974), the Family Farm Bill (1975), Abolishment of the Death Penalty (1998), and Tuition Tax Credit (1998). In 1994 he received a Papal Appointment as a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. Tim retired from the Iowa Catholic Conference in November 1999. In November 2017, Tim received the Governor Harold E. Hughes award from Iowans Against the Death Penalty.
Tim and Sandra Mullinix were married on October 14, 1991 in Kaui, Hawaii and maintained residence in West Des Moines.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughters, Denny (Marty) Junius, Patti (Bill) Graham, and Kathleen (Charles Blair) McCarthy; son, Timothy (Karla) McCarthy; grandchildren, Dennis, Megan, Rory, Wesley, Maggie, Caitlin, Connor, Timmer, Bridget, Alec, Nolan and Molly; 10 great grandchildren; and brother, Terry McCarthy. Tim was preceded in death by Geraldine McCarthy, and sister Mary McCarthy.
A visitation with the family will begin at 8 a.m. Friday, May 25, 2018 at St. Augustin’s Catholic Church in Des Moines, followed by a funeral mass at 10 a.m. with burial at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.
A special thank you to HCI Hospice of Central Iowa and to the wonderful caregivers at Glen Oaks Alzheimer’s Care Center, and Dr. Douglas Timboe for his many years of caring for Tim.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Catholic Charities, HCI Hospice of Central Iowa, or St. Augustin’s Tuition Endowment Fund.
