Timothy John McDonald

1952 - 2010

Timothy John McDonald of Niceville, Fla., passed away July 2, 2010, at the age of 57 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.
Born in Omaha, Tim was raised on a farm just outside of Council Bluffs, Iowa. A 1971 graduate of St. Albert's High School in Council Bluffs, Tim joined the U.S. Army after graduation. On Sept.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; and son, Timothy M. McDonald, all of Niceville, Fla.
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 Abby, 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, brother-in- laws Michael, 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.
Tim was predeceased by his parents, Bernard and Iris McDonald of Underwood, Iowa.
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.
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.
Heritage Gardens is entrusted with all arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the McDonald Family Scholarship Program at Northwest Florida State College.