Franklin, Tenn. - Timothy Daniel Donovan, Sr., 74, of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Inez (Anderson) and Freeman Donovan, Tim was the youngest of nine children and was preceded in death by his beloved siblings: Dale Donovan, Pat (Donovan) Sappingfield, Shirley Donovan, Paul Donovan, Mary Hammack, Mike Donovan, David Donovan, and Robert Donovan.

In 1969, Tim met Kathleen Wilkie in Detroit, Michigan. Tim and Kathy shared 56 devoted years of marriage and raised seven children together: Timothy Daniel, Jr., Thomas James, Shonna Lynn, Amanda Marie, Jonathan Paul, Hannah Kathleen, and Kaitlyn Faith. Their home was faith-filled and anchored in steadfast love.

Tim founded an industrial sandblasting and painting company in Jacksonville, Florida, working alongside his sons and instilling in his children the values of hard work and devotion to family. Many remember his big, strong hands, shaped by years of labor. Those same hands could turn playful in an instant, filling the house with laughter.

He had a gift for making ordinary moments extraordinary: weekend trips to the zoo and library, bedtime stories told with embellishment, mornings spent at breakfast offering steady counsel, and evenings watching The Andy Griffith Show or a western. Everyone knew they could ask Tim for advice that could be trusted. No matter what was broken, needed fixed, or could not be done, Tim would always find a way around, behind, or through. When the family moved to Tennessee, Tim bought and trained horses. In time, he rode a tamed Lightning across the field, even training him to rear up on command - a scene worthy of The Lone Ranger himself.

With the birth of his first grandchild, Tim became Papa, a title he carried with pride. Papa was always the first to step outside to play, the one who freed the toys and Barbies from their boxes at Christmas, and a patient listener to share breakfast with at Waffle House. Each grandchild felt uniquely known and deeply loved.

Tim is survived by his beloved Kathleen Donovan of Franklin, TN; his children Tim (Dawn) Donovan of Brentwood, TN, Thomas (Ginny) Donovan of Jacksonville, FL, Shonna Donovan Phelps of Pulaski, TN, Amanda (Mike) Street of Panama City, FL Jonathan (Tiffany) Donovan of Fairview, TN, Hannah Donovan of Nashville, TN, and Kaitlyn Donovan (Jim) of Franklin, TN; and 16 grandchildren: Haley Street, Aidan Phelps, Bella Street, Lily Phelps, Savannah Street, Julie Donovan, Jenny Donovan, Thomas Donovan, Liam Donovan, Mason Donovan, Emma Donovan, Jackson Donovan, Raelyn Carroll, Jenilee Donovan, Madison Donovan, and Julian Donovan Baggett.

Services will be held at Harpeth Hills Memory Garden, Nashville, TN, on Feb. 18, 2026. Visitation begins at 12:30 p.m., with service at 1:30 p.m. A reception will follow at the home of Dawn and Timothy Donovan, Jr. of Brentwood, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a fund established to continue Tim's faithful commitment to the care and well-being of his granddaughter.

"But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." - Hebrews 13:16