Timothy “Tim” James Monahan, 70, passed away on June 3, 2026, with his family by his side after a courageous battle with cancer.

He is survived by the love of his life of 43 years, Sandy Monahan; his sons, Marc Sanzenbacher (Kelli) and their son Jaxun Morden, Shawn Monahan and his sons Austin Monahan and Dominick Monahan, sister Carol Ryan (Don), and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Margaret Monahan, and his siblings, Mike Monahan, Brian Monahan, and Nancy Kapudjija.

Answering the call of duty, Tim served proudly in the United States Navy from 1973 to 1981. He completed tours aboard the USS Eisenhower and USS Saratoga. During his 1980 deployment, the Eisenhower set a record with 254 consecutive days at sea in the Indian Ocean amid the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Transitioning to civilian life, Tim founded and operated Plantation Printers in Ellenton, a successful print shop he ran with pride for 26 years.

Tim was a man of strong faith who lived by Hebrews 11:1, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” He believed in service and giving back, and those weren’t just words to him. He treasured his family, gave freely to others, and people who knew him remembered him for his honesty and kindness.

If there was one thing nearly everyone who crossed Tim’s path agreed on, it was the smile. It arrived before he did and lingered after he left. His humor was quick, warm, and just mischievous enough to keep you on your toes. He had a gift for finding the laugh in any room and the even rarer gift of making sure everyone else found it too. That infectious joy wasn’t performance. It was simply who he was.

Tim was an active member of First Baptist Church of Palmetto, where he served on the Safety Team and taught middle school boys’ Sunday school. He was also a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous, celebrating 33 years of sobriety, and took real satisfaction in sharing his experience, strength, and hope with others on that same journey.

Long before it became ministry, the motorcycle was freedom. Tim felt it in the open road stretching out ahead and the wind made everything else fall quiet. That love ran deep, and in time it found a natural home in the Christian Motorcyclists Association, where he rode alongside others and shared the Gospel with a community that understood exactly what it meant to just ride. He served the CMA faithfully for many years, holding leadership roles as both Road Captain and Vice President.

Tim loved the outdoors and passed that love on to his children and grandchildren through years of camping trips and time spent outside together. Retirement brought something unexpected and wonderful. With the shop behind him and the calendar finally their own, Tim and Sandy rediscovered each other in the unhurried way that busy lives rarely allow. They explored the American West together, chasing open skies and new roads, finding in those miles a closeness that deepened everything they had already built across four decades. It turned out the best chapter was still ahead.

He was a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Rams and Ohio State Buckeyes football.

Tim will be interned on July 8, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 SR-72, Sarasota, FL 34241. A Celebration of Tim’s Life will follow at First Baptist Church of Palmetto, 1021 5th St, Palmetto, FL 34221 with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m. and service at 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Tim’s name to First Baptist Church of Palmetto or a cancer organization of your choosing. It would be a fitting tribute to a man who spent his life giving to others