WATERLOO -- Tim Shea was easing his way back into his job as Waterloo's Waste Management Services superintendent when the floods arrived in June.

Despite needing to be on light duty while recovering from a heart attack, Shea put in extra time ensuring his department was keeping the flood protection system running and the sewage treatment plant operational.

"That was Tim's sense of responsibility," said Mayor Tim Hurley. "He wasn't going to let his guys and gals fight it without him, even though he wasn't supposed to be down there."

Shea, 63, whose body was found Monday morning in the Cedar River near Plainfield when he failed to return from a fishing trip, was remembered by friends and colleagues for his solid leadership in directing the city's sewage treatment and sanitation operations through major improvements and politically difficult times.

No foul play is suspected, but the state medical examiner was to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Bob Bamsey, an engineer at Earth Tech who worked with Shea during an overhaul of the sewage treatment plant and on solid waste issues, said Shea excelled professionally and personally.

"Tim was instrumental as we went through the whole process (rebuilding) the treatment plant," Bamsey said. "He took over down there at a really tumultuous time and did a good job of bringing that staff together.

"Outside of work, he was very loyal to his family and was a big baseball fan," he added. "He knew a lot about a lot of things. We're going to miss him."

Shea was hired in 1988 and watched as several of his department's leaders were terminated. He was promoted to superintendent of Water Pollution and Flood Control in 1994 following the forced resignation of Gary Simmons.

The city was facing potentially huge fines from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at the time based on the treatment plant's limitations, but had received a $37 million federal grant to help finance $67 million in plant improvements. Shea was holding the reins as the plant was constructed and modernized its operating process.

In 2000, Shea was appointed to lead the new Waste Management Services division, which merged garbage collection, sanitation and recycling programs with the sewage treatment and flood control operations. Over the next eight years, Shea helped start a yard waste drop site program in response to the leaf burning ban and implemented a curbside recycling and yard waste program in 2003, which continues to grow in popularity.

On Monday, City Council members approved a composting program Shea helped put together. A red rose was joined by a St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap on Shea's chair in the council chambers.

"One of Tim's favorite words when making an argument was 'fundamentally,'" Hurley said. "Well, fundamentally, Tim Shea was a terribly decent person.

"He was a little crusty on the outside for those who didn't know him well," he added. "But he had a wonderful sense of humor."

Funeral services are being planned. Shea's assistant, Larry Smith has been named acting waste management superintendent.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.