Allen Kamper, age 62, of Grand Island, Nebraska died Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at the Omaha Veterans Medical Center.

Graveside services will be 1:30 PM Saturday, October 27 at Rose Hill Cemetery, Palmer, NE will Military Honors.

Tim was born on February 29, 1956 in a Leap Year to Lyle Leroy Kamper and Doralene June Lilienthal. He grew up in Grand Island, Nebraska. He spent some time working in Iowa and lived in Minnesota for a short time. Tim's life love was for the Rivers of Nebraska though and returned here permanently in 2010. He grew up hiking the Banks of the Wood River just behind his childhood family home in Martin Acres.  He spent many a day in the Platte River at Long Lane spearing carp and setting set lines for catfish. As a child while his Sisters where swimming in the channel Tim could always be seen on the sandbars intently building dams and roadways.

Tim loved canoeing the Platte, packing some sandwiches and a transistor radio he set out regardless of the certainty of hitting a shallow and having to get out and push. Stepping into the sand and water of the Platte was the whole point of being there. He claimed his paternal family history along the Loop River and spent many a night camping and setting set lines along its shores. He rarely missed the Spring thaw watching the ice flows thunder down this River while standing up on one of the old rusted bridges up North. He loved hunting pheasants along the endless cornrows of Nebraska, bow fishing and deer hunting.

My favorite memory bow hunting with Tim is coming upon a group of deer along a shelter belt and never getting off an arrow. It was good enough just finding the deer there and watching them together in silence. There was nothing Tim loved better than a campfire and good company-except maybe a nice BBQ and bed of coals while he cooked everybody a big steak. We will miss his company and his cooking!

Most of these good times were accented with Tim's true love of playing the guitar. He had his debut at the Mustang Club when he was about 10? playing a Johnny Cash song. He truly loved this hobby and had a good talent that he eagerly shared with everyone. He loved Credence Clearwater Revival and if you knew him well you can never hear a CCR song without thinking of Tim. In the last couple of years Tim wrote many original songs with lyrics. We will keep them all safe and who knows maybe you'll hear one someday.

Tim spent quite a few years working in the Carpenters Union Offices in Iowa and was a die- hard Union Member and Believer. He loved working as a Union Carpenter and worked on many projects including the Wind Mills. While he lived in Iowa he spent countless hours volunteering in that Chapter's AA Program serving Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Tim provided temporary housing in his home to many freshly Recovering Alcoholics giving them the jump on Sobriety that they needed. He found great happiness and loved this process of giving back as long as he was able.

Tim idolized American Service Veterans and held them in high esteem seeking out volunteer opportunities and their company whenever he was able. He suffered from the disease of Alcoholism throughout his life intermittently grasping onto Sobriety for many periods of time. If you knew him during these times of Sobriety you found a very friendly, busy, hardworking, life loving human being-that was the Real Tim. He suffered unspeakably from the disease of Alcoholism, COPD and pneumonia in his last years. If given the chance Tim would be expressing his immense gratitude for his Nephew Hayes' companionship, his Aunt Robyn for her help until the end and his two Uncles, Dennis and Harry who made extensive efforts to help him have shelter and safety in these last years.

Tim is survived by his Sister Kim, Nephews Hayes and Wyatt, Niece Holly, Aunt Robyn and Uncles Ronald, Harry Jr. and Dennis Lilienthal and Evelyn Kamper. As well as many cousins and extended relatives and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lyle and Doralene and Sister Karen.

Farewell Tim we'll see you on the River or hear you in a Song…