Cardinal baseball fans… we’ve lost a good one. Timothy Joseph McCoy has re-tired from the Iowa playing field to the place Jesus has prepared for him in the Father’s house (John 14:1-4). He died peacefully in hospice care at Greene County Medical Center on March 30, 2026, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Tim was born Aug. 31, 1950, to Gene and Marian (Minnihan) McCoy in Jefferson, the third child of seven. He was raised, lived and worked in Jefferson his entire life. Graduating from Jefferson Community High School in 1968, he continued his education at DMACC Boone Campus and Iowa State University obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
During his high school and DMACC days, Tim worked alongside his brother Steve and high school classmate, Ivan Millard, at Bordenaro’s Market. He then worked for a short time as a circulation route manager for The Des Moines Register before joining the salesforce at Barrett Motor Supply (NAPA). Traveling his sales territory, Tim developed not only a loyal customer base, but he also garnered many life-long friendships. Of course, he was well-known to many weekend ‘shade-tree’ mechanics who knew he only lived one block from the store. Tim eventually left sales and worked for the City of Jefferson in the wastewater department until his retirement.
Tim had a variety of interests, and will be remembered as an analog man living in a digital world. As a St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan, he tuned his radio to KMOX St. Louis to listen to Jack Buck call the Cardinal play by play with Mike Shannon providing the color commentary. Late night KMOX sports introduced him to Bob Costas, whom Tim personally encountered on more than one occasion. His love for baseball he also shared as a coach of a Jefferson Senior League teenage team.
As a traveling salesman, Tim knew the ‘backroads’ of the surrounding counties better than did most. And while he continued to travel those roads providing daily rides for his dogs, Knute and Rudy, Tim traveled to Europe and New York City with his brothers as well. Of course, there were trips, too, to Missouri for sporting events, Minnesota and Indiana for drag racing and NASCAR respectively, in addition to visiting friends along the way.
In his younger days, he ventured into film making (short features) starring as “The Champ”, entertaining countless patrons of the ‘beer tent’ in the early years of the Bell Tower festival. Tim’s gregarious nature meant he was a stranger to none; [even on a crowded New York subway car headed to Yankee Stadium (New Yorkers still wonder ‘who was that guy?’).] Locally he was a member of the Jefferson BPO Elks 2306; he also served in various leadership roles, including serving as Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus council 2030. He also supported the local P.A.W.S. organization and pet adoptions.
As a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tim served in the usher rotation for many years as well as ushering for many funeral Masses. As a Knight, Tim spearheaded the annual KofC Garage Sale to raise funds to support vocations to the priesthood, a cause he cared about deeply. He also represented the local council at the Knight’s state convention on multiple occasions, and once served Mass for Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who was at the time the bishop of the Sioux City Diocese.
Tim is survived by his siblings: Teresa (Roger) Chesler and Margaret McCoy (Tim Collogan), both of Jefferson, Monsignor Kevin of Fort Dodge, and Chris (Lana) McCoy of Grand Island, NE. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Karen McCoy of Jefferson, along with five nephews and several great-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Marian (Minnihan) McCoy; his brothers, Steve and Mark; and nephew, Brett Robert McCoy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the local P.A.W.S. animal shelter, to the Knights of Columbus Vocation Fund (Council 2030), to St. Joseph Catholic Church or to a charity of your choice.
Services by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, 515-386-2171.
