Timothy "Tim" Thomsen

Timothy A. Thomsen, 77, of Iowa City, Iowa, formerly of Mount Vernon, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Visitation: Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 4:00-7:00 PM, Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Celebration of Life: Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 10:30 AM, Celebration Farm, 4696 Robin Woods Lane NE, Iowa City, Iowa 52240. Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon, are assisting the family with arrangements.

Tim was born on December 25, 1948, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Leo and Mary (Strickland) Thomsen and was the oldest of five children. After graduating from Mount Vernon High school, he attended Cornell College, where he was a member of the wrestling team, and then attended medical school at the University of Iowa. Following general surgery residency and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship, Tim practiced general, thoracic, and vascular surgery in Mason City before establishing the cardiovascular surgery program at North Iowa Mercy Hospital in 1989. He did a stint in hospital administration in the mid 1990’s as the CEO of the Mason City Clinic. Thereafter, he resumed his surgical practice and moved back to Iowa City in 2004 to practice trauma, burn, and emergency general surgery at the University of Iowa and vascular surgery at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.  Within the University setting, he was able to utilize his remarkable gift of teaching.

Tim’s medical career culminated with his work in palliative medicine in which he became board certified in the early 2010’s. He became the director of the Supportive and Palliative Care program at the University of Iowa until his retirement in 2023. This point in his career truly became the pinnacle of his brilliance, weaving together his years of practicing many types of surgery, his years in administration, and his coming to peace with the delicacies of human life that cannot be cured with modern medicine. While he imparted innumerable valuable lessons throughout his career, one of the most significant was his insistence that the young doctors he trained learn to value each member of the medical team as essential and valuable. Tim viewed every member of the team, from the telephone operator to the physician, as crucial to the practice of medicine. He had an incredible gift for making people in all walks of life feel seen and special, and he continued sharing this gift for the duration of his life. Tim deeply believed the patient and their prognosis should shape and define the delivery of personal and compassionate care. Another poignant illustration of Tim’s philosophy as a physician is the three-legged stool he was known to carry around the hospital on rounds. Given the common chair-less hospital room, this stool allowed Tim to sit and offer his presence and care for whatever duration of time his patients and families needed.

Tim will be remembered as an incredibly dedicated and devoted father to his children. He instilled a love of books, music, birds, exercise, humor, and adventure. He was also a deeply beloved grandfather to his 14 grandchildren.

Tim is survived by his former wife, Jean (Scott) Bennett and their four children, Sarah (Ryan) Majerus, Timothy W. (Lauren) Thomsen, Daniel (Megan) Thomsen, and William “Will” (Alycia) Thomsen; his 14 grandchildren; siblings, Bill (Lori) Thomsen, Mary Thomsen, and Martha Davis; and best friend and partner, Kathleen McCarron.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Barbara (Jeri) Neal; and brother-in-law, Vic Davis.

In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial gift to your local Hospice to support the work he valued so deeply.