Timothy (Tim) Lane passed away peacefully in his home on June 8th following a long and valiant battle with cancer. 

Tim was born in Waterloo, IA on 12/20/48 to Alvin and Margretta (Ryan) Lane. Tim graduated from Columbus HS (Waterloo) in 1967, and received his bachelor’s in History and Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Northern Iowa in 1971 and 1975, respectively. 

Tim worked for the Iowa Department of Public Health for over 3 decades, where he was, in his own words, “dedicated to the promotion of physical activity, good nutrition, and healthy communities.” Notably during his tenure: Tim helped develop Live Healthy Iowa; was awarded the Lewis Hine Award; and created FITnet, an innovative daily electronic newsletter that reached over 350,000 people globally with thoughtful, witty, and inspirational messages.

He loved cycling, skiing, dancing, rock climbing/repelling, running, and coaching volleyball. Generations of players and their families loved Coach Lane, as he focused on empowerment, team building, and fun, both on and off the court. 

As an avid cyclist, Tim volunteered for RAGBRAI, was a founding member of Team Skunk, and developed the Ride Right program to encourage helmet use and other safe cycling practices. He rode across Iowa over 50 times, once within 24 hours at the age of 62. He went on to ride across the continent (via the Panama Canal) within 6 hours at the age of 66, adding to his repertoire of accomplishments and punchlines alike.

He worked closely with Dam to Dam, The Living History Farms races, and countless other ventures and community-improvement projects. With his gregarious, playful spirit and booming voice, Tim was the ultimate cheerleader and emcee. 

Tim was the great-great nephew of Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, an American women’s suffrage leader, whose tireless efforts helped pass the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in 1920. Tim honored her legacy by sharing her story and acting as Co-Chair of the National Nineteenth Amendment Society’s Advisory Board. Tim was a lifelong advocate for political and social justice himself. Having worked to establish several monuments to figures whose stories may have otherwise gone unheard, and consistently spoke truth to power.

Tim’s life was so full of adventure that even those who knew him well would be surprised to learn about some of his feats. From his service as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Korea, to hot air ballooning in South America, to bearing the Olympic Torch in 1996, to beating Dan Gable (in basketball), Tim was always on the move and in search of new experiences. 

In his final days, Tim was cared for by his devoted daughter, Carrie Lane (partner Dylan Shroll); and brought special comfort by sister-in-law Mary Lane; nieces, Peggy Flanagan (children Nick and Maggie), Katie Spriggs, Amy Nelson, Anne Schreck, Julie Savelkoul, and Elaine Dempsey; cousin Sister Anne McCormick; friends, Susan and Cal Murdock, Mary Kundrat, Tyler Weig (partner Johanna), Richard Deming, Debbie Lanich, Mike and Hedy Hustedde, Irene Bowen, Jo Oldson, Kathleen Renk, Mikki Duke, Sherry Kirkman, and Justin Bissonnette. He is additionally survived by sister Pat (Jim) Cain, many more family members, and countless beloved friends and players. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Margretta Lane, and siblings Sue (Art) Gutknecht, Betty Schrock, Mike Lane, and Julie Clare Lane. 

We’ve barely scratched the surface of the epic story of Tim Lane. He lived by the phrase Carpe Diem (“seize the day”), always seeking out joy, humor, knowledge, and adventure. May those that knew and loved him seek the adventure and joy in life, and ask ourselves, “What would Tim do?”