Timothy Cypher

Timothy Alan Cypher, son of Richard and Kay Cypher passed away Monday April 20th , under the special care of his son’s Griffin and Erinn, after a long and challenging health battle.

Tim was born September 22, 1952 in Lansing , Michigan. He was raised in Grand Ledge and graduated in 1970 from Grand Ledge High School , a member of the state championship basketball team. His draft number was 4 and he enlisted in the Navy during Vietnam and trained as a radioman on airplanes, stationed in the Azore islands. Tim was active racing cross country and tested speed wax for Dan Holley, an Otsego ski club member he befriended while working for Alan and Keith Gornick, then owners of the private resort, Hidden Valley in Gaylord, Michigan. Tim met his bride, Egan at Otsego Ski Club and their first date was at his brother Greg’s wedding in Grand Ledge. Egan’s parents Jerry and Shayla, knew Tim first and the humorous story Tim told was that Shayla was a good tipper because she often stayed in Gaylord to retrieve young Dan McGlynn from camp Sancta Maria, and more than once forgot to pick Dan up from a day at the stables, which Tim ran for Hidden Valley during the summer months.

Tim and Egan were married July7, 1979 at the farm he managed on Murner rd for the Gornick Family. In 1981 their oldest son, Griffin was born, and Tim began working for Jim Kohler managing the commercial properties and businesses Jim owned. When Jim purchased Ken Mar in Gaylord, Tim developed Marsh Ridge Resort which is still operating today. While running Jim’s thoroughbred breeding farm in Ortonville, Michigan, second son Erinn was born and within two years the family relocated to Traverse City, Michigan. Tim started Cypher Group inc shortly after relocating and began providing home inspections for banks and migrated to development consulting and became proficient in wetland regulations and sensitive DEQ, now EGLE applications.

Tim was awarded Natural Resource Advocate of the year in 2005. He worked for many local townships as zoning administrator in Leelanau county primarily but also in Benzie and Grand Traverse Counties recently as his guidance was highly sought after.

Tim and Egan raised their boys in Cedar, Michigan close enough to Sugarloaf Resort to hear the snow guns and he was actively involved in ski sports as well as youth sporting events working alongside many ski parents and volunteers managing CUSSA and FIS racing programs at Sugarloaf.

Tim is predeceased by his parents, Dick and Kay Cypher, his brother Greg Cypher, and his in-laws, Gerald and Shayla McGlynn. He is survived by his siblings Gary ( Chris ) Cypher and Karen Cypher, ( Troy) , his wife Mary Egan McGlynn and his son’s Griffin and Erinn Cypher, grandsons Jack and Luke Cypher along with many nieces and nephews.

He will be remembered as a detail oriented community overseer, who took great pride in protecting the townships in Leelanau county and beyond. He was solution focused and tried to help all township constituents have the opportunity to receive fair, balanced and accurate information and assistance. He was thorough and committed to his work, his family and his community. No formal services are planned at this time but a celebration of Tim’s contributions will be held sometime in the future. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Leelanau Laundry Program c/o LCN 7322 E Duck Lake Rd, Lake Leelanau, Mi 49653.

Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to share your thoughts and more.