Timothy A. Duerr
Age 70, of St. Joseph, MN, formerly of Buffalo, MN, passed away on January 14, 2019 at St. Benedict’s Senior Community in St. Cloud, MN. He was born on March 31, 1948 in Buffalo, MN.
Preceded in death by parents: Arthur and Anna (Barthel) Duerr.
Survived by brothers: Anthony (Antonia) and Gregory (Mary); nephews and nieces: Nicholas (Shannon) Duerr, Rachel (Mike) Miller, Megan (Dan) Ritten, Tonia (Erik) Poncius and Troy (Sarah) Duerr; great-nephews and nieces: Madeline, Alex, TJ, Samantha, Emma and Joe Duerr, Kathryn and Jon Miller, Hunter and Gerrit Poncius, Tyler and Owen Ritten, Glori and Kelsey Reed; many cousins and friends.
Tim attended Beebe Lake Country School District #44 through 8th grade and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1966. He was involved in 4-H during grade school and high school and showed Brown Swiss cows. He majored in music at St. John’s University and graduated in 1970. He traveled to Europe with the St. John’s University Men’s Chorus. He taught music at St. Michael High School for 10 years. He was involved in several musicals in Buffalo, a favorite was playing Tevia in Fiddler on the Roof. He sang and played trumpet at many weddings and funerals. He also worked at Honeywell, Dayton’s/Macy’s, Target and Casey’s.
Tim will be remembered for his love and attention to family, his great singing voice, being a Democrat and his love for flowers, horses, dogs and all kinds of poultry.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 18th at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 9:00 AM at St. Michael Catholic Church, 11300 Frankfort Parkway NE, St. Michael, MN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Crossroads Animal Shelter, Buffalo, MN.
Serving the family is The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home. 763-497-5362. www.thepetersonchapel.com
I have so many memories of Tim and will miss our many phone calls and visits when I got back for reunions. I’m glad he is no longer hurting but I miss him—he was one in a million!
He was such a great music teacher. I absolutely loved choir. He enlightened and exposed all of his students to some really great pieces and styles of music. STMA was very fortunate to have him as our music teacher/choir director He really was passionate about music and I’m grateful.
Rest well Tim♥️
My sympathies to the family. Tim was a classmate and a wonderful friend. I have many fond memories of him from school and things we did together. His passing is a deep loss for many of us.
Tim sang at my wedding, and was the star of many plays in the Buffalo area. A great talent, who will be missed.
Tim was a good person. I will always remember him for his love of 4h and poultry.
Our sympathy to your family. Keep all the good memories close in your heart.
Great musician, better person. Incredibly talented and kind. You had a positive impact on so many. You will be missed!
My deepest condolences to all family and friends.
Tim enriched the lives of so many. He gave generously of his talents and was a loyal friend. Peace be with you, Tim.
Only reason I took choir was because of Tim. He loved life and people! I ran into him many times while he worked at Dayton’s. He was so good at remembering people!
Tim was a classmate and dear friend..you will be missed. Sherry
Tim helped me to find myself through the joy of singing, encouraged me to sing, he was such an inspiration to me, always so friendly, such a kind man. He will be missed I’m sorry I will miss his service but I will be out of tiwn
I was shocked and greatly saddened to hear the news of Tim’s death. I knew he had been having some serious health issues, but when he called me several months ago, I thought he was doing better. He was a college room for a year at Saint John’s snd we went to Europe together with the Saint John’s University Men’s Chorus traveling with another friend to Rome after the regular tour. I will miss his unique humor, his total honesty, his great singing voice, and his faithfulness as a great friend. Tim, May you rest In God’s loving embrace.
Tim was a living American Saddlebred encyclopedia of Horsie Heritage. His hugs and beautiful voice legendary. He always had a ready smile and there never was a short conversation. RIP my Friend you will indeed be missed.
Not long ago, I was lamenting how it seemed that music teachers today just don’t expect much from students, like Mr. Duerr did. I told my friend all about Tim, and explained that he brought out the talent he expected from each student he taught, and didn’t take excuses. If you didn’t pass his choir audition, you didn’t get in. We learned complicated harmonies- learning those songs because he told us we would, not that we merely could. His love of music and of sharing that love made him a memorable teacher. Well, that and his long, curly mop of hair- it was the late 1970’s, after all.
He was one of a kind, and will indeed be greatly missed.
Rest In Peace Tim. Thank you for being our class advisor.
Tim was my lifelong best friend. I can’t imagine a world without his wicked wit, contagious humor, oversized talent, and generosity of spirit. We met between 7th and 8th grade at a birthday party for Natalie Dixon. We became instant buddies and he befriended me as I made the transition to “town school” that fall. We shared so many interests: 4H, showing cattle, music, theater. Over the last 56 years we share more laughs than I can count, cried together a few times over our losses, and always kept in touch because we were forever connected. Tim and I spent a wonderful day together last August,as I “kidnapped” him from the rehab center in Blooming Prairie. I sensed as we asked an aide to take our picture on my i-pad that it might be our last together. Indeed, it was. He called me last week after he had made the decision to enter hospice care. We laughed, we cried, we remembered. We told each other how much our friendship had meant over the decades. Tim, I will miss you terribly. I will treasure your life force forever. I’ll never forget your unbridled joy when I told you that our son Kyle had become engaged at Xmas. You always had such joy in other’s good fortune. I think you were voted “most popular” and “most talented” in our class. You will certainly retain that title in my heart. I can’t attend your funeral, alas, but I treasure the time we had together earlier this year. You were brave to the end, an example to all of us. Rest in peace and in God’s love, my dear friend.
God bless you Mr Duerr! We did many plays where you directed and I goofed off! Always enjoyed singing with you and you were such a inspirational director. A few years ago you came up and talked with me but, unfortunately, I did not realize who you were as time has changed us all. When I finally found out it was you later and felt bad that I missed such an opportunity to tell you what I had been up to and you were my driving force to keep singing – even to today. Everyone has a chance to make an lasting impact in someone else’s life and you made one in my life and I was very blessed and privileged to have known you. Rest peacefully and when the opportunity comes, sing loudly!!
No one could ask for a kinder and accepting friend than Tim . When I moved to St. Michael and started a new teaching job , Tim helped acclimate me to my new surroundings. We both enjoyed duck hunting and with Tim’s help I was given an opportunity to enjoy my favorite past time. He introduced me to his warm, welcoming family which made me feel right at home. He even convinced me to help slaughter and butcher hogs…..I had no idea of what I was getting into…the expressions on my face provided entertainment for the Duerr clan….except for Tim who was in the farm house because he didn’t like the gruesome activity taking place down by the hog pen. I felt like one of Tom Sawyer’s friend white washing the fence. My memories are too many to recount…he had a beautiful voice, was an exceptional, capable choir director, passionate in his beliefs, cheerleader and supporter of his family (of which he was very proud ), great teacher and most of all a true friend! I will miss him greatly but I will also smile when I think of him. What an honor to count Tim as a friend. My sincerest condolences and prayers for all that grieve for him. I hope your memories of Tim bring comfort during your time of grief .
Tim’s sense of adventure led him to go to a Christmas party with a woman he’d never met. We soon discovered we matched each other bon mot for bon mot. He generously shared his family and his friends with me. Tim “let” me help load newly baled hay on the truck so he could get it in the barn to beat the rain. He took me dancing and introduced me to Southern Comfort Manhattans. We lustily belted out BeeGees songs on our way to anywhere.
To quote Dolly Parton “Old flames can’t hold a candle to you.”
The years were good years and you’ll always own a part of my heart. Rest in God’s love, friend.
Rest In Peace Tim. I have so many fond memories; I never would have dreamed of performing in front of an audience, but you knew I could and it changed my life. I will carry your gifts with me always.
I guess there is a reason you were on my heart today. I knew you were ill as you were not able to attend our reunion in September but had no idea you would be leaving us before the next! You were a “bus buddy” to me when we attended Buffalo High School – although you and Kim teased me unmercifully – and I will always remember you as my friend! Rest in peace Tim and keep singing! My sympathy to your family – I know you will be missed!