Service Update:  A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca, Nebraska.

Followed by interment, with military honors, at South Creek Calvary Cemetery.

Luncheon to be served afterwards at The American Legion in Jackson.

The following is the obituary for Timothy Joseph McKivergan, 80, of New Braunfels, who passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on April 22, 2025, surrounded by the love of family. Written in his own words…

OBITUARY

TIMOTHY J  MCKIVERGAN

February 11, 1945 – "My time"

I started checking the obituaries a while back to see if I was in it.  Well, today I am!

I suppose I resisted my passing as long and hard as the next guy.  I truly believe that man's will to survive is a lot stronger than the sometimes more practical choice of getting out of the way while the getting is good!  In any case, the discussion as to whether I fought to stay alive or drifted quietly into the hereafter is moot since, as mentioned before, I am in the obituary today!

I am writing my own obituary on the advice from my friend John, who pointed out that by writing your own, 1) you spare someone else from having to write it, and 2) it gives you a chance to include things you thought were important in your life.

I was born February 11, 1945 to Nebraska farmers, Frank and Kay McKivergan.  According to my mother, I am living proof that guardian angels do exist and I used mine regularly.  I have one older brother, Jim and two sisters, Diane and Lois.  All in all, we had a pleasant childhood.  As far as I know, no one had to be bailed out of jail or committed for substance abuse rehabilitation.

In 1964, I did the smartest thing in my life by marrying Gwen (LaMere) McKivergan.  We were blessed with two children, Teresa and Scott, each of them further blessing us with grandchildren (grandchildren are more fun and more expensive than your own kids).  Gwen and I faced all the challenges that people endure when they are young and underfinanced, but happily, as tough as things got for us, something always came up to carry us through (much credit to Gwen's ability to manage a check book).

Since someone is going to have to pay for each line of this obituary, I will get to the point by focusing on some of the other highlights of my life (listed in no particular order).

·         I ran the mile faster than anyone in the district.

·         I had a really cool '55 Chevy.

·         I was trained as a medical corpsman in the Navy; sent to serve with the Marine Corp; served in Vietnam twice; and learned there were worse things than dying.

·         I assisted in surgeries.

·         I delivered babies.

·         I took off from an aircraft carrier.

·         I earned a bachelor's, masters', and law degree all in night school.

·         I met my Uncle George's crazy friends.

·         I survived a tractor roll-over.

·         I spent 18 years working for the Daughters of Charity Health System (through that group, Gwen and I traveled much of the world).

·         I became the CEO of a successful medical malpractice insurance company.

·         I flew my daughter's airplane.

There were lots of other highlights in my life, mostly related to our family, Gwen, and the kids.  They made it worthwhile and interesting.  Unless I take care of it myself, I'd like somebody to chisel on my tombstone, "My life was a hell of a ride."  See you when you get here.

Tim is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Kay McKivergan; his sister, Diana K. Odle Rittscher; and his son, Scott Alan McKivergan. He is survived by his loving wife, Gwen; daughter, Teresa Mirarchi (Joe); his grandchildren, Nickalos (Celeste and son, Jimmy), Christopher Mirarchi, Brooke Bartholomew (Jordan) and Brianna Mirarchi; extended family and many friends and colleagues whose lives he touched deeply.

Services will be held in Ponca, Nebraska, this summer. Details will follow via dissemination by family and/or updates to his tribute on the Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home website or Facebook page.

"It takes a helluva big bird to weigh a thousand pounds."   Tim

Service Update:  A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca, Nebraska.

Followed by interment, with military honors, at South Creek Calvary Cemetery.

Luncheon to be served afterwards at The American Legion in Jackson.

Please sign the guestbook at www.doeppenschmidtfuneralhome.com