Dr. Timothy B. Garth

Dr. Timothy Garth, 40, of Kearney, passed away Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney with his wife, Michelle, by his side. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 27, 2021 at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney. Inurnment will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Open Visitation will take place Thursday, August 26 from 5-7pm at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Timothy Brian Garth was born August 6, 1981 in North Platte, NE to Michael Garth and Therese McCarthy. He grew up in North Platte, and as a kid enjoyed books, filmmaking, and playing at Grandma's. He attended St. Patrick High School, graduating in 2000. Afterwards, Tim attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and received a bachelor's degree in art education in 2005. After graduation, he taught elementary art at Papillion-LaVista Public Schools and high school art at Columbus High School. While teaching, Tim went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2011. His passion for art education then led him to the University of North Texas where he earned his doctor of philosophy in 2016. After receiving his doctorate, Tim was a professor of Art Education at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and most recently at UNK. Throughout his education and professional career, Tim received numerous prestigious awards, fellowships, and research grants. He was an artist and a passionate educator, who dedicated his life to advocate for arts education and mentoring teachers and students. On July 1, 2006, Tim married Michelle Boell in Kearney, their 15 years of marriage were filled with love, laughter, and many adventures. Their greatest being the birth of their beloved son, Oliver, in 2019. Tim's greatest joy was spending time with Ollie making art, reading stories, playing with their dogs, and fostering his love of the great outdoors. Tim was a devoted husband, father, and friend. He always made his family and friends a priority. He was a kind, loving, outgoing, and charismatic man who never met a stranger. He was a best friend to many. Tim loved the arts, music, a good craft beer or whiskey, and was an avid Huskers and Chiefs fan. He also relished his role as founder, commissioner, and multiple time champion of their fantasy football league. Tim waged a long, hard-fought, courageous battle, and we are very proud of him. He was a ray of positivity, goodness, & light. He will be missed by many. He won, he is free. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Michelle Garth of Kearney; son, Oliver Garth of Kearney; father, Michael Garth of North Platte; sister, Katherine Garth of Omaha; brother, Daniel Garth of St. Louis, MO; grandmother-in-law, Dixie Boell of Holdrege; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Robin and Doug Boell of Kearney; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Stacey and Mike Wendell of Bertrand; nieces and nephews, Kaylee, Landon and Addison Andersen and Peyton and Olivia Wendell; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family and friends. Tim was preceded in death by his mother, Therese; brother-in-law, Ronald Andersen, Jr; grandparents, Myron and Catherine Garth and L.R. and Mary Alice McCarthy; grandparents-in-law Art and Ramona Heins and Benjamin Boell.

Dr. Timothy B. Garth

August 6, 1981 - August 17, 2021