John Townsend

John Townsend, age 75, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Thursday, April 16, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Services for Mr. Townsend will be held on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake. Burial is in Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Friends may call on Sunday afternoon, April 19th, from 2:00 to 6:00 at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. John Fredrick Townsend was born June 12, 1933 in Early, Iowa, the son of Ferdinand and Sarah (Tryon) Townsend. He was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in Early and later affirmed his faith as a youth when he was confirmed in the same church. John received his education in Early, graduating from high school in 1951. John began active service in the United States Army on February 11, 1954, until being transferred to the Army Reserves in 1956. He received an honorable discharge on January 31, 1962. On July 31, 1960, John was united in marriage to Margaret Carlson in the Cherokee First Presbyterian Church in Cherokee, Iowa. The couple was blessed with four children: Greg, Jeannie, Julie and Bob. John and Margaret raised their family in the Storm Lake area where John spent 31 years working at HyGrade. In his semi-retirement, he drove the cancer van for Siouxland Paramedics. John was a lifelong Presbyterian and a faithful member of Storm Lake Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed woodworking, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings, country music and traveling, especially the trips to see his children and grandchildren, attending all of their various activities. John took great joy in his final wishâ€”he took his whole family on a Caribbean cruise in 2009. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 48 years, Margaret of Storm Lake; his children: Greg (Terri) Townsend of Moweaqua, Illinois; Jeannie (Steve) Miller of Marion, Iowa; Julie (Louis) Jacques of Edina, Minnesota; Bob (Roxanne) Townsend of Denison, Iowa; grandchildren: Collin and Rachel Townsend, Sean and Sarah Miller, Natalie, Isabelle, Alicia and Ellianne Jacques, Jeff (Melissa) Swanson, Emily and Skylar Townsend; one brother, Junior Townsend of Early; two sisters: Betty Connalley of Omaha, Nebraska, and Shirley Howell of Mason City, Iowa; extended family and a host of friends. John was preceded in death by his parents.

John Townsend

June 12, 1933 - April 16, 2009