Central College announced the establishment of the Roslien-Timmer Kinesiology Endowment, created by the families of Maurine Timmer, the late Gary Timmer, 1955 Central graduate, Sheri Timmer Roslien, 1988 Central graduate, and John Roslien, associate professor emeritus of kinesiology.
Educational philanthropy has long been a priority for the Roslien and Timmer families. Their fathers were both fundraisers at small Iowa colleges — Gary Timmer at Central and David Roslien at Luther College — when the families connected through John and Sheri.
The endowment will support continued excellence and innovation in Central’s kinesiology program, ensuring future generations of students and faculty benefit from the same high-quality education, mentorship and research opportunities that defined Roslien’s nearly 40-year tenure.
“I am honored to be recognized with this endowed gift to the kinesiology program,” Roslien says. “It will support initiatives within the program that have been important to me for decades.”
Roslien’s impact on Central began in 1986 when he arrived as the college’s first full-time athletic trainer. He started his work in a cramped room above a boiler with limited supplies, tasked with building a program from the ground up. Though he initially planned only a short stay, he found the Pella community welcoming and, with support from campus leaders like Coach Ron Schipper and President Ken Weller, made Central his home.
In his early years, Roslien’s duties extended well beyond athletic training. He taught classes, managed equipment, coached baseball and served as a residence hall director — work now shared by more than a dozen staff members. Over his nearly four decades of service, he helped guide Central’s athletic training program from its modest beginnings into a state-of-the-art operation in the Helen Jean Hislop Center and around the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex, shaping both the program and the generations of students who followed.
“Gary and Maurine witnessed the incredible impact John and the kinesiology department made in creating a vibrant program producing powerful curricula and amazing students,” says Craig Timmer, 1981 Central graduate. “Through this endowment, John’s legacy will live on by empowering students and faculty to achieve their potential, as he has done for nearly four decades. This fund ensures that the spirit of dedication, program development and student focus that he championed will continue to flourish. It will support Central in remaining a leader in the constantly evolving field of kinesiology.”
For information about establishing an endowment, contact Michelle Wilkie, senior director of development and engagement, at wilkiem@central.edu or 641-628-5138.
Photo caption: The family of John Roslien, associate professor emeritus of kinesiology, created an endowed scholarship for kinesiology students. A family photo was taken in September 2024 during the Geisler-Penquite Foundation meeting. From left, John Roslien, Sheri Timmer Roslien, 1988 Central graduate, Maurine Timmer and the late Gary Timmer, 1955 Central graduate.
