Margaret Katherine Timeus, affectionately known as Maggie or Mom, passed away on June 6, 2025, at 88, joining God’s Angels in Heaven. Born on September 11, 1936, to August and Dora Knierim in Muscatine, Iowa, she was the third of five children. Preceded in death by her parents, brother Charles, sisters Anita and Betty, husbands Jack Spurgeon and Tim Timeus, and partner Leonard Johnson, Maggie is survived by her brother Edward Knierim (Hanna), sons Rick Spurgeon (Cheryl) and Mike Spurgeon (Tancy), stepdaughters Julie O’Dell and Jeanine Gemperle, twenty-one grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, and eleven nieces and nephews. Following a successful heart valve procedure, her organs failed due to an unidentified infection, yet she left this life with the grace and dignity that defined her.
A vibrant soul and active member of Saint Andrew’s Lutheran Church in San Mateo for over 50 years, Maggie’s unwavering faith in God was her cornerstone. She had a remarkable gift for connecting with people, forging lifelong friendships across the globe—from Alaska to Florida, Germany to the Orient—long before social media. Maggie cherished celebrations, teaching her family to honor loved ones through joyous tributes rather than sorrow. At Sunny View in Cupertino, she embraced community life, founding knitting, crochet, and Rummikub clubs, while finding joy in watching hummingbirds, tending patio plants, and cheering for the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants.
Maggie taught her family to love deeply and forgive freely, a lesson evident in her radiant heart and every action she took. Her favorite song, “Jesus Loves Me,” reflected her deep faith. She maintained an extensive contact list, keeping in touch with countless friends and family worldwide. In quieter moments, she enjoyed simple pleasures, but her legacy is one of community, compassion, and unwavering love, touching everyone she met with kindness and joy.
A memorial service to celebrate Maggie’s life will be held on June 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Sunnyview Front Porch Community, 22445 Cupertino Rd, Cupertino, CA, followed by shared memories and light refreshments. A graveside service is planned at Shaul Memorial Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa, date to be determined, where her cremated remains will rest alongside her parents, brother, and sister. Maggie loved receiving cards, and the family encourages sending them in her memory.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Sunny View Employees Education fund, Filoli Estate and Gardens (https://filoli.org(, the National Parks Foundation (https://nationalparks.org) or Muscatine Button Factory in Maggie’s name.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.