Timothy James Classen was born, in Omaha, to Arthur and Elaine Classen on March 6, 1944. He was baptized April 9 and later confirmed in the Christian faith at American Lutheran Church in Omaha on March 30, 1958. Tim passed away on June 3, 2022, after being at a care facility in Lincoln for three weeks.
Tim attended school in Omaha and graduated in 1962 from North High School, where he played football and was a 145-lb. center and his senior year the Vikings were state champions. Tim also loved playing tennis in high school and went on to play at Dana College and at University of Nebraska at Omaha. After college, he played fast-pitch and then slow-pitch softball. So many lifelong friendships were made with those his North High men and continued for the next 60 years.
Tim married Colleen Nelson in August of 1969 – after softball season was done. After getting his teaching degree from UNO in 1971 … he loved school and took his time in graduating… he began his 30-year career at Centennial Public Schools in Utica. He mainly taught junior high science, was the defensive line coach for the football team and the head wrestling coach. Despite never having wrestled himself, he learned the sport and went on to have several successful teams, even two state championships and one runner-up. In addition to working with the student athletes, he loved the camaraderie of fellow teachers and coaches. He retired from teaching and coaching in 2001 but then volunteered at the state wrestling tournament as one of their floor managers up until 2020, when his dementia made it necessary to retire.
During his teaching and coaching years, he and Colleen didn’t travel a lot but then made up for it after that, traveling to countries in Europe and throughout the United States. One of Tim’s goals was to visit a winery in every state – he made it to 43 of them, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Tim’s interests also included learning to cook and he stuffed many rigatoni noodles, reading his National Geographics and many books, watching science programs, putting jigsaw puzzles together and playing a lifetime of playing cards especially with family at the South Dakota reunions.
Tim is survived by his wife, Colleen; daughter, Nicole Warner and her husband, Aaron, and their son, Benjamin, from Kirkland, Washington; brother, Greg Classen and wife, Julie, from Papillion; sister-in-law, Patty Classen from Omaha; brother-in-law, Jim Nelson and wife, Cindy, from Creston, Iowa, plus nieces and nephews and lots of extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws, also older brother, Daniel Classen.
There will be a signing of a remembrance book on Thursday, June 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward with a gathering of family and friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Utica with a private graveside service at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Nebraska Public Media (NET/NPR), Doctors without Borders or the Environmental Defense Fund. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.volzkefuneralhome.com.
