Margaretha (Rumo) Timmerman

Margaretha Rumo Timmerman, 101, passed away of natural causes on Saturday, April 4th in Lakeview, Ohio.  She was surrounded by family in the home that she loved.

Born on February 22, 1925 in Interlaken, Switzerland, Margaretha grew up in a small town in the Swiss Alps. She graduated high school and in the winter months worked at ski resorts. During World War 2 Margaretha served in the Swiss Army.  Her love of adventure took her to the south of England where she served as a companion to a dame.  From there she crossed the Atlantic to serve as a nanny to a family in Lima, Ohio where she met the love of her life, John P. Timmerman.  They married and raised four children instilling in them kindness, compassion, and generosity.

Margaretha loved to travel the globe (visiting 24 countries), cook (writing her own cookbook), and sew (making clothes for herself, and others, and costumes for the theater). She was an avid skier, played tennis and Rummicube, a life long learner (attending courses well into her 80's) loved gardening (especially her beloved geraniums), and cared for numerous beloved cats and a couple of dogs.  She also loved to entertain friends and family in the beautiful and welcoming home she created in Lima and then Orchard Island at Indian Lake.

Margaretha never met a stranger. Her charm, charisma, warm smile and storytelling (including living through a tornado at the age of 99), made her a long list of fast friends around the globe. She was often heard inviting people to come visit her beautiful home on the lake. In her presence people felt welcome, wanted, and cared for.

Numerous passions and causes filled her time; Friends of the Lima Public Library, Cotillion, Encore Theater, Lima Symphony, and Lima ArtSpace, to name a few.

Margaretha is survived by her daughter Nancy (Timmerman) Cromley, sons David John Timmerman, Martin Rumo Timmerman, James Isham Timmerman and his wife Jill Ellen Segerman. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Ann (Cromley) Lambdin and her husband Jesse, Sarah (Cromley) Kubacki and her husband Matt Kubacki and David and his wife Megan Mogart-Cromley, Ryan Timmerman and nine great-children. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, John P. Timmerman who passed at 92 years of age.

A celebration of life will be held at her home at Indian Lake at a future date. Interment will be at the family plot at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Those who wish to remember Margaretha are invited to attend the celebration of life or share memories and photos online at Hanneman Siferd Funeral Home; www.millerfuneralhomes.net or the Miller Funeral Homes Facebook Page.  

The family requests in lieu of flowers that you make a donation to: Indian Lake Watershed Project; Lima Art Space; Lima Symphony Orchestra.