Donald Cooper Timmerman

Donald Cooper Timmerman

March 7, 1932 – August 21, 2022

 Don Timmerman passed away with his family by his side on the afternoon of August 21, 2022. He was 90 years old. He is predeceased by his parents, Gale Timmerman and Teresa Kaselack, stepfather Sidney Kaselack and sisters Gayle Vollum and Margaret Bublitz.

He was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon and spent his early years in Eureka, California. At age seven, he, his mother and his sisters moved to Coronado, California where he eventually graduated from Coronado High School. He then attended UC Berkeley on a track scholarship where he earned All-American honors in the quarter mile and low hurdles. He was a loyal brother in Sigma Chi fraternity where he made many lifelong friends. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in Business Administration. He served his country in the US Army immediately following graduation. He was assigned to the Army Counterintelligence Corps stationed in Manhattan, New York. And while he sometimes joked he was a spy, he really just did background checks for those seeking classified clearances.

Following his discharge, he returned to the Bay Area and started as an accountant at US Steel in Pittsburg, California. During this time, he met the love of his life, Carol Argue, back at UC Berkeley. They were married in Berkeley in December 1958 and moved to a house in Concord, California. Shortly afterwards, they moved to their life-long home in Walnut Creek where they raised their family.

Following his work at US Steel, Don began his career in the car washing business. He started as a co-owner of a car wash in Oakland followed by Big Bear Car Wash in Concord and ultimately owner of two Li’l Bear Car Washes in Walnut Creek. His Cal heritage clearly showed up in the names of his businesses. He was proud of his 60+ years of self-employment.

Using the GI Bill following his Army discharge he earned his private pilot license at Buchanan Field. Over the years, he owned and enjoyed several different aircraft. Flying was truly his “fix.” Back before cell phones, when he couldn’t be found, he was likely soaring somewhere over the Bay Area. Besides flying, he enjoyed many pleasures in his long life such as vacationing at the family home in Truckee, tennis, cat and dog husbandry, family genealogy, backgammon, cribbage and bridge.  Besides his beloved Cal Bears, he loved his 49ers and Warriors. He was also a proud grandfather to his grandchildren.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Carol, his daughters Laura Timmerman and Karen (David) Luchini and son Peter (Liz) Timmerman, his sister-in-law Dorothy Daybell and grandchildren Cooper, Olivia, Riley, Ellie and George plus numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. A special thank you is extended to caretakers Vernon, Bong, Art and Luzy who kept him positive, motivated and doing the most his body would allow.

At his request, no services will be held. If you otherwise choose to celebrate him, please consider a donation in his memory to the charity of your choice.

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