Timm Arthur Wienke

Timm Arthur Wienke passed away November 5, 2025 at age 92. He was the first baby born in Northfield, MN in 1933 (January 1). He grew up the son of the town barber and a school teacher, with one younger sister, Karen. Timm was in many ways an old-fashioned man, from a different generation and a set of values for the simple things we all would do well to embrace. He also grew to enjoy an Old Fashioned on occasion in his later years. Timm loved spending his childhood in and around Northfield with his best friend Bill Anderson, being outside all day, imagining, exploring, and playing with a freedom that the small town afforded. During high school, he learned a strong work ethic as an usher in the town's movie theater and photographer for his Northfield High School yearbook. After graduation, Timm and Bill both enlisted in the Air Force to serve their country during the Korean War. He was a technology nerd of the era, assigned the role of repairing typewriters on bases during the war. After returning home, Timm initially got a job at Cullman Wheel through a family connection in Chicago, and later began work for the DuPont Company. He married Leanne Diederich in 1966 and set up their home in Northbrook, IL. In 1974, DuPont transferred Timm to their Wilmington, Delaware offices so he and the family made the move and lived in Media, PA for 5 years. This enabled them to explore the historic and natural beauty of the east coast. In 1979 he happily took on the role of DuPont Regional Warehouse Manager in MN, and moved the family to Bloomington, MN. He retired in 1996 after more than three decades with Du Pont. He and Leanne then bought a truck and a camper and escaped for weeks at a time, seeing the natural wonders of the US. He got restless and found a part-time job for several years with Pitney Bowes, inspecting postal meters. Timm felt very passionately about societal issues and often wrote to his elected representatives. Despite being old-fashioned, he also embraced modern technology and would frequently keep up with his expanding family through those means while also researching genealogy. For several years, Timm patiently curated a newsletter called "The Family Times" to keep all generations of the family connected with one another's current events. This collection of Family Times articles resulted in two years worth of recorded memories and is truly a treasure for the family. He was also a suffering Vikings and Twins fan for many years. He loved movie nights and wine time.
Timm greatly admired his daughters and how they and their families have grown. He expressed deep appreciation of Leanne for her constant care and deft management of everything "household" allowing him to remain comfortably at home right to his last breath. His family is immensely grateful to the Park Nicollet Hospice team guiding them through Timm's final weeks as he dealt with the effects of kidney failure.
Timm was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Olga (nee Kaiser), brother-in-law Al Mjorud, and great grandchild Louis-Zellie Smaron. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Leanne, his sister Karen (Gunner Peterson), his daughters Suzanne (Tom) Colling and Sharon Wienke (Rob Simonfy), grandchildren Annie (Matthew) Smaron, Theodore (Kalley) Colling, Leo (fiancé Raquel Bata), and four great granddaughters, Avila and Chiara Smaron and Maren and Magdalene Colling. Annie and Matt were fortunate to inform Timm that his fifth great grandchild is expected in May.
A memorial service will be held for Timm on Tuesday December 23, 2025 at 11:00am at Washburn-McReavy Bloomington Chapel; 2300 W. Old Shakopee Road. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Military honors will take place at the graveside service at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at 12:30pm, after which there will be a reception at the Bloomington Chapel.