Robert Timothy “Tim” Trier, 61, of Newton, died on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at his home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 29 at the funeral home. Memorials to Open Your Heart may be left at the funeral home.
Tim, the son of Robert and Geraldine (Schmitz) Trier, was born Nov. 6, 1954, in Ottumwa. He grew up in Prairie City, where he graduated from high school in 1972. After high school he worked at Joel Johnson Car Dealership as a mechanic. He then went on to work in the IT departments at the Maytag Company and Iowa Telecom. Through the years, Tim always knew he had a passion to work with kids and pursued his degree in education through Drake University. For the last six years, he had been a substitute teacher at many schools around the area and then a guidance counselor at Aurora Heights Elementary School in Newton.
Tim had many passions in life, many of which revolved around children including being a Newton Little League and AAU basketball coach, coaching basketball, football and track for almost 30 years at Newton High School, being a Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer and also a foster parent to many children. He was a 2016 Legacy Award winner at Newton Community Schools for all of his years of coaching.
Tim was also known as an excellent dirt track announcer at many of the dirt tracks in the area including the State Fairgrounds, Knoxville Raceway and the Stuart Raceway. He got his announcing start at the Eddyville Dragway. In 2005, Tim was inducted into the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame. Tim was a dedicated volunteer at the Iowa State Fair, taking vacation time each year to enjoy the people at the fair.
Those left to honor Tim’s memory are his mother, Geraldine “Gerry” Trier of Ankeny; brother, Mick (Angela) Trier of Ankeny; and his nephews, Justin, Jared and Joshua Trier. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Trier.
Tim was a loving and good son, brother and uncle and he was never happier than when he was helping children.