Timothy J. McDonald (1952-2010)

MCDONALD

Posted By: Padriag
Date: 7/22/2010 at 10:27:36

Timothy John McDonald
(December 15, 1952 - July 2, 2010)

Timothy John McDonald, 57, of Niceville, Fla., passed away July 2, 2010, while flying his World War II T-6 Texan Aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico. His passenger, brother-in-law, Tim Turner of Omaha, Neb., also passed away.

He was born in Omaha, Neb., and was raised on a farm just outside of Council Bluffs. He was a 1971 graduate of St. Albert’s High School in Council Bluffs. Tim joined the U.S. Army after graduation. On September 18, 1976, he married the love of his life, Jan Simpkins, and together they have three children: daughter, Jill Kerschitz and husband, Frank; granddaughter, Kalli Kerschitz; daughter, Karen Archer and her husband, Michael, daughter Alexis Archer; and son, Timothy M McDonald, all of Niceville, Fla.

On July 5, 1976, Tim became a successful Mac Tool distributor, servicing all of southwest Iowa. He was promoted to district manager, regional manager and eventually was the president of Mac Tools in Columbus, Ohio. In 1997, Tim retired from Mac Tools and because he had a passion to once again own and operate his own business, he purchased Fort Walton Machining, a small company of 35 employees on Industrial Street. He quickly grew the company with his sales background and purchased the building at 43 Jet Drive in Fort Walton Beach, the current location of Fort Walton Machining. With more than 200 employees strong, Tim was as passionate about Fort Walton Machining and the employees as he was flying his Cessna and Baron airplanes for business and the T-6 for fun. An accomplished pilot, Tim was a single engine, multiengine, instrument and commercially rated pilot.

Tim was a member of the Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club, Economic Development Council board member and a member of the Northwest Florida State College Foundation, where he created the McDonald Family Scholarship Program. He was past president of TeCMEN and honorary director of Beach Community Bank. Tim was also a member of the NATA (North American Trainer Association) as well as the Destin Warbirds.

He was preceed in death by his parents, Bernard and Iris McDonald.

Tim leaves behind two sisters, Joyce Hardisty and husband, Rich; niece, Chelsea and nephew, Spencer and Marcia McDonald, and also brothers, Phil McDonald, Paul McDonald and wife, Rose; niece Abbey, Nephews, Cory and Nate, Rick McDonald and wife, Cindy, niece, Caiti and nephew, Matt, all of southwest Iowa.

Tim also is survived by his father and mother-in-law, Larry and Judy Turner, of Elliott, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Michael Simpkins, Jim (Julie) Turner, Philip (Becky) Turner, Nick (Kim) Turner and sister-in-law, Elizabeth (David) Lemelin and many Turner nieces and nephews.

Tim also has a very large extended family of cousins from southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, July 8, 2010, at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church with a luncheon to follow in the Parish Hall. A second memorial service and celebration of life will be at 3 p.m., Sunday, July 11, 2010, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Neola, Iowa.

Visitation and fellowship following in the Parish Social Hall. Heritage Gardens in Niceville, Fla., is entrusted with all arrangements. Memorials may be made to the McDonald Family Scholarship Program at Northwest Florida State College.

Published: Friday, July 9, 2010 10:26 AM CDT