'People loved him': Former Rockford City Council member Bill Timm dies at 92
ROCKFORD — William “Bill” Timm, who represented the ninth ward on the Rockford City Council from 1997 until 2013, died Thursday at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, Illinois, following a short illness.
He was 92.
Timm’s wife of 63 years, Barbara, passed away 36 hours after his death.
“Bill just took such good care of her, and once he was gone, she was done,” said Nancy Johnson, who served on the City Council with Timm. “It just seems kind of appropriate and fitting. It’s a sad day.”
Timm was born and raised in Rockford. He graduated from Cathedral of Saint Peter Grade School and Saint Thomas High School, class of 1948.
After working at Mead’s Meat Market and later as a driver’s license examiner for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office in the late 1950s, Timm embarked on a 40-year career with Smith Oil Corp., where he was eventually promoted to the position of operations manager.
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As a council member serving his beloved ninth ward on the city’s northwest side, Timm spent countless hours driving through neighborhoods looking for ways to improve roads, traffic signals and bring new businesses to the area, according to Doug Mark, who represented the city’s third ward from 2001 until 2013.
“If you ever wanted to look up the description of a great alderman, Bill’s picture would be there,” Mark said. “Bill did so much for the community and for his constituents. I am honored to have served with him and am lucky to consider him a great friend.”
Public safety was high on Timm’s list of priorities. He was also a staunch supporter of local businesses and would frequently meet with his constituents over coffee.
“Every week when I would meet him either on the council floor or for a cup of coffee, he would always talk about what he could do to improve what’s going on out there in the ninth ward,” said fellow council member Frank Beach. “People loved him. He was a strong councilman and, generally, when he spoke, he had something to say.”
Timm was an antique car enthusiast and a member of the Automobile Association of America and the Blackhawk Region Antique Car Club.
Johnson fondly recalled when Timm attempted to drive his green 1948 Dodge through the streets of downtown Rockford for the city’s Fourth of July parade.
“About halfway through the parade, the car kind of gave out,” Johnson said. “So, some of the other aldermen got behind him and literally pushed his car through the rest of the parade route.”
Timm is survived by his two daughters, Nina (Ben) Sheriff and Connie (Tom) Murphy; two grandsons, Michael and Mark Murphy; sister-in-law, Ginny Schmidt; and several nieces and nephews.
“He was very proud to have served his city for 16 years as alderman of the ninth ward,” Timm’s daughter, Connie Murphy, said in an email. “He was very proactive and responsive to his constituents, and he took his position seriously.”
A celebration of life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Venetian Club, 2180 Elmwood Road, Rockford. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church St., Rockford, with visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church.
A memorial fund will be established at a later date.
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, kdecoster@rrstar.com or @DeCosterKen.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Former Rockford City Council member Bill Timm dies at 92
