Richard Lee Townsend Sr., 84, died of lung cancer on September 27, 2011 in Des Moines. Graveside services will be Noon Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be 10 to 12 am Saturday at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines.
Richard was born on April 26, 1927 the son of Howard and Donice (Butcher) Townsend. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and in Germany. He married Anna Marie Jaster in 1948. The couple settled in Des Moines where he worked for Flynn Dairy and Super Value Warehouse until retiring in 1989. He loved fishing on his property at Lake Hattie, Minnesota. Another special hobby was cooking the best fried fish ever with his oatmeal cookies.
Richard is survived by his wife Mary Isbell Townsend who he married in 1991; his children; Jack (Diane) Townsend; Doris (Mike) Van Weelden; Richard Townsend Jr.; Cindy (Bill) Genzen; twelve grandchildren; ninteen great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter; two sisters Joann Samuels and Carol Sue Rapp; one brother Dan townsend. He was preceded in death by his wife Anna Marie in 1990, parents Howard and Donice Townsend, brother Robert Townsend, sister-in-law Doris, brother in law George Samuels, sister-in-law Bonnie Townsend, son-in-law William Abbott and nephew Robert Rapp.
