Tamara McIver

Funeral services for Tamara McIver will be held on Monday, November 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry.  Reverends Andy League and David McIver will be officiating.  A visitation will be on Sunday, November 5, from 2-5:00 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.  Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lowry.

Tamara Loi Hager was born on October 7, 1959, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Allan and Sandra (McLean) Hager.  She lived with her family a few places in the metro area before moving to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where she received her education.  Tammy graduated with the Aberdeen High School class of 1978, and following high school, she attended Northwestern University in Aberdeen.  Tammy moved to Minneapolis and began her career working with special needs children.  While at a youth retreat in Wisconsin, Tammy met Timothy McIver, a young man from Lowry, Minnesota.  They began dating, long-distance, and on September 15, 1984, they were united in marriage at the Historic Courthouse in Stillwater, Minnesota.  Following their marriage, they lived in Wisconsin and welcomed their first child, Derek.  In 1987, they settled in Lowry, and welcomed three more children: Kayla, Kendra, and Matthew.  Her most important job was that of a mother, and Tammy stayed home to raise her family.  After Matthew went to school, Tammy also went to school, working as a paraprofessional in Special Ed with the Minnewaska Area School District. 

Tammy was a member of Lowry Gospel Hall; she had an unwavering faith and shared that with her friends and family, especially her children.  Tammy was an excellent swimmer and gardener; she had a green thumb that was very apparent by her always beautiful, landscaped yard.  In earlier years, Tammy and her family enjoyed many camping trips together, and she was so organized and packed everything – most likely the reason for overpacking being passed down to her children.  Tammy drove miles and miles for her children, following them on their adventures: baseball and basketball games, piano and musical concerts, and tennis matches – she never missed them.  Tammy’s children filled her time and she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.  Tammy was a woman with a strong, caring, and warm heart, she was always willing to help others and give to anyone she could.

Tammy died peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, under the care of Glacial Ridge Hospice and her family.  She was 64 years old.

Tammy is survived by her children: Derek (Erika) McIver of Lowry, Kayla McIver of Lowry, Kendra (Dylan) Hansen of Osakis, and Matthew (Lizzie Martinez) of Lowry; grandson, Brian McIver; her parents, Allan and Sandra Hager of Alexandria; brother, Kyle (Sali) Hager of Sun Valley, CA; parents-in-law, Paul and Ruth McIver of Lowry and several nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Timothy in 2006; grandchildren: Penelope, Sam, and Hope McIver; sister, Taryn Sidey; and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Greg and Becky McIver and Steven McIver.

Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in care of arrangements for Tammy.