His father Frank was the son of German immigrant farmers who rode the Burlington Northern from rural Wisconsin to the Chicago and settled in a humble bungalow in Chicago’s Norwood Park neighborhood. Frank was an ambitious and charming kid and, while hustling his way through the Great Depression, got himself a job with the Ray M Ring company, a distributor of bearings, machine parts and other things needed to keep the wheels of industry rolling. He used his good looks, charm and street sense to rise through the ranks at Ray M Ring and charm a young Vennette Janke with her movie star good looks into marrying him. Frank and Vennette, like many children of immigrants, set off to live the American Dream.
Jim was soon joined by brother John (1941) and sister Susanne (1944). He and his family lived in the leafy suburb of River Forest, Illinois and enjoyed what can only be called a postcard perfect mid-century life. Jim played Little League Baseball, caddied at nearby River Forest Country Club, delivered the Oak Park Leaves newspaper, worked at Marshall Field & Company and dreamed about flying airplanes. He used his earnings to pay for flying lessons, fueling his passion for aviation and the wide-open sky.
While working at Marshall Fields, Jim met Dolores Manfredini, daughter of Henry and Irene Manfredini and was taken with her big smile, dark hair and outgoing personality. The Timble and Manfredini families came from the same community but were a contrast in many ways. Jim attended public high school and lived in tony River Forest. Dolores lived in more modest Oak Park and attended Trinity, an all-girl Catholic school. Jim’s Dad Frank, born in the United States, fast tracked his American Dream, becoming a partner in Bearing Headquarters, the renamed successor to the Ray M Ring Company. Dolores’ Father Henry, born in tiny Sant’Anna, Italy was striving for his American Dream, working at Nuti’s Bakery, buying a bungalow in Oak Park and sending his daughters to private school. The small, extended Timble Family was dwarfed by the sprawling Manfredini/Leonardi/Bartucci family. One can only imagine that a young Jim Timble was amazed by the big gatherings, bountiful home cooking and the constant hugging and affection he experienced when visiting the Italians on the “other side of town”
Jim was the first person in the Timble Family to attend college. And he did it in a big way. His father Frank, seeing a possible doctor in his first-born son, sent Jim off to Georgetown College in Washington D.C. Jim made lifetime friends at Georgetown but also was deeply homesick and not a fan of the daily mass enforced on the all-male students at this Jesuit College. When he returned home from college for good, he asked his father if he could work at Bearing Headquarters. Frank, realizing his dream of being a doctor’s dad was over, welcomed Jim to the Headco Family. His first job was sweeping floors.
In 1961, Jim married Dolores Manfredini and they began their own family. They had four sons, Mike (1963), Steve (1965), Jimmy (1968) and Robert “Bobby” (1972). As a father, Jim encouraged his boys to be loyal, work hard, be smart and cherish their friends. He also instilled in them a Midwest work ethic and passion for fiscal responsibility. Like their father, the boys delivered newspapers, caddied, cut grass and saved their money. They also inherited Jim’s love of baseball, playing Little League as well as his love of the news, public affairs, reading and community. Jim and Dolores divorced in 1989 but remained united in parenting their sons.
Jim Timble spent his career at Headco Industries. Moving from the stockroom to sales to management to executive leadership. He led the company as president from 1976 to 2012 and as Chairman from 2000 to 2024. Industry in Chicago and America changed dramatically during Jim’s time at BHQ. Alongside his brother John, he guided Bearing Headquarters through the collapse of the American Steel Industry, the oil crisis and two recessions. His motto of “Service First” not only applied to his clients and customers but also to his employees. Jim retired in 2012, stepping away from the day to day business but staying involved as Chairman of the Board. Because he considered his employees and co-workers at Headco Industries as family, too.
In 1991, Jim married Nancy Karen Heidebrecht. He and Karen had met through common friends and immediately recognized that they were soul mates. Their three decades plus relationship has been described as 34-years of first dates. Jim immediately connected with Karen’s daughter Susan (1966) and son Jim (1969) and considered his and Karen’s kids as one, large extended family. Jim and Karen immediately built a life together – constructing a house in the woods in rural Franklin Grove, Illinois, travelling extensively, fishing, bird watching and enjoying a life in the country. Their love and support for each other, whether wintering on Florida’s Gulf Coast, fishing in Hayward, Wisconsin or helping one another overcome the health challenges that come with age, was complete, charismatic and unyielding.
After he retired, Jim revisited his boyhood passion for flying, renewing his license, flying regularly and joining the United Flying Octogenarians. He shared his love of aviation with his grandkids who marveled at the world from the back seat of small plane piloted by their Grandpa.
Jim Timble died on June 2, 2024 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. As with all things in life, Jim faced his health challenges proactively, doing his research and trusting science. His death came after a short struggle with cancer. He leaves behind his wife Karen of 34 years, her son Jim Heidebrecht, his wife Sally Heidebrecht, grandson Alex, granddaughter Kate and great-grandson Nickolas as well as Karen’s daughter Susan Nelson and her husband Matthew Nelson. He is survived by his brother John Timble, sister Suzanne Timble and his four sons and their spouses and children: Mike Timble, Martina Brockway their daughter Rumeur and son Kayin, Steve Timble, Julia Kim their daughter Veronica and son Luca, Jimmy Timble, Michele Timble and their daughter Kate and son Jack and Bobby Timble and his daughter Alexandra.
A Graveside Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri
