Timothy James Mahan

Timothy (Tim) Mahan was born on September 11, 1963 in Yankton, South Dakota to Eugene and Mary Lou Mahan. Mary Lou would say “he came while I was sleeping” which was probably the only time in Tim’s life that he was quiet. Tim had two older brothers, Mike and Brian, and one younger sister, Michelle. The four of them had great time on the family farm in South Dakota. Tim would love to tell stories about his childhood - mostly the story about how he was shot by a shotgun when he was 12 riding a tractor and how he still has buckshot in his body. He loved to stun the x-ray guys when they scanned his lungs…yes those dots on the screen are buckshot!

Tim had great memories of his younger years. He loved going to O’Gorman high school, which was a distance from the farm, so Tim lived with the Priests - Mary Lou and Gene were smart parents. He met wonderful friends - Curley, Shithead, Light, Bunkers and PETE; and too many others to count. He loved those years at O’Gorman and all of the friends he made there. Tim returned often to celebrate the lives and events of his friends in South Dakota and always on the drive home would talk about the days in South Dakota.

After High School, Tim tried many things: college, travel, and various jobs till he finally settled on Bartending. Yes, Tim loved a good cold BEER. (green beer, red beer, normal beer…..just beer). Tim landed at Wayzata Country Club where he spent 18 years serving beer and wine to the members as the Food and Beverage manager. He loved that job!!! So many friends were made there, and some lasted his whole life.

One night after work, Tim met a girl at a bar with friends, and finally, after 6 months of trying to date Leslie, he realized that the girl he liked was really named Ruth. Once he knew the right name, he was not going to lose Ruth - he proposed four times (Ruth thought he was joking) and Tim and Ruth were married on June 6, 1992…. (D-Day – let the war begin, he would say lovingly). Tim and Ruth had three children: Hanna, Zachary and Megan. The five of them traveled, camped, and created memories that shaped their lives together - from road trips in the car with bathroom breaks only when stopping for gas; trips to California to see Aunt JoAnn; Wells, Nevada; Hersey, Pennsylvania; crabbing on the Chesapeake; Gettysburg; National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence(had to make sure there wasn’t a map on the back); boating at the cabin; hunting trips; baseball games; softball games; wrestling; choir and band concerts; and of course football and lazy Sundays on Zach’s pontoon on Lake Minnetonka. He loved every moment with his family and like any family, there was always a comment on things: “Pummel In”…. “Shall we gather at the river”… “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades”… “get busy living or get busy dying”… “I’m going to love you forever” were his favorites and can still be repeated by people he loved.

Tim was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 which started a 8-year battle of surgeries and treatments. He wanted to stay busy, so he spent time at Total Wine and More, where he “helped people enjoy the love of wine”. In 2021, he decided to stop working and spent all his time with family and friends. Through it all, Tim had Ruth, Hanna, Zach and Megan by his side. He “Pummeled In” and stayed active with friends and family. He didn’t want to miss anything and was there for graduations, plays, hunting, camping, tailgating, partying and quiet evenings on the porch with Ruth. During those 8 years Tim was never far from Ruth - they were a pair. Ruth would say we are going to live this journey in joy and that is what they did. Joy in surgeries, joy in dialysis, joy in rehab, joy in the hospital, joy in crazy ideas (such as buying a camper to travel in while on dialysis), and going to the ocean to hear the waves rushing in. Joy in Ruth’s special recipes of rice pudding and sourdough bread and most of all joy in the chocolate shakes. The Lord wrapped Tim in his arms and took him to Heaven on June 18th. He was surrounded by family and friends at the end. While life with Tim was sometimes hard, they created lasting memories of joy within the sadness of Tim's illness.

Tim loved life… He was not going to waste a minute of it. He was a man of conviction and believed in doing the right thing even if it may be seen as wrong by others. He was going to help when he could and be with friends and family as much as possible. All of us here had the pleasure, joy, and love of his company and we are all better for it. He will be missed by so many and mostly by Ruth, Hanna, Zach, and Megan; but we will all honor him by living in Joy and “Pummeling In”.

Tim died on June 18, 2025 surrounded by family. He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, and their children: Hanna, Zachary, and Megan Mahan; brothers: Michael and Brian Mahan and Sister Michelle (Keith) Langner; brothers in laws: Bill Jakupciak, Bob (Joddi) Jakupciak, Dave (Erin) Jakupciak, John (Susan) Jakupciak, Paul (Patti) Jakupciak; sisters in Law: Becky Bryson and Elizabeth Jakupciak; mother in law: Alice Jakupciak; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Gene and Mary Lou Mahan.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at Holy Name of Jesus on Wednesday, June 25th at 11:00am, with visitation one hour before and a wake on Tuesday, June 24th from 5-7pm with 7pm memory sharing and Rosary at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Home in Plymouth. Interment Holy Name Cemetery. Memorials in Tim’s honor may be given to the family, who will donate them to a cause close to Tim’s heart.

                                    Live in Joy and Pummel In.