Gerald Alton Townsend

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday December 14, 2018 at St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church located at 6415 NE 64th St, Gladstone, MO 64119. Viewing will be from 11:00am to noon. Funeral Service will be at noon. Luncheon to follow in the Church Hall. Burial and Celebration of Life Party will be held in April at Ft Leavenworth National Cemetery, Ft Leavenworth KS.

Jerry was the youngest son of Roscoe E and Hazel I (Wake) Townsend, the sibling of Lois M (Townsend) Gaggens and Donald E Townsend. All who preceded him in death.

Jerry was born in Armourdale, Wyandotte County, Kansas on July 15, 1933. He graduated from Argentine High School. He went into the US Army serving as a MP at Sandia Army Airfield, Albuquerque, NM during the Korean War. It was there in New Mexico he spotted a little red hair cutie across the skate rink named Geri. On February 16, 1954 he told her he would be driving her home that night and the rest of his life. They got married on September 1, 1954; true to his words they were together for over 64 years. To this union was born 6 children, Michael (Andrea) Townsend of Pomona CA, Daniel (Betty) Townsend of La Habra Heights CA, Richard (Tricia) Townsend of Sedalia MO, Susan (Terry) Harvey of Gladstone MO, Donald (Joan) Townsend and Stephan (Janice) Townsend both of Kansas City, MO. They are the grandparents of 20 -Dante, Jennifer, Scott, Marleana, Hannah, Stephanie, TJ, Latisha, Cheryl, Lucas, Michael, Kevin, Cassandra, Natasha, Mikel, Eric, Anna, Michael, Tessa and Alyssa. And the great-grandparents of 23.

Jerry served in the 69th Infantry Brigade, 169 AVN/BN of the US Army 35th Infantry Division, and the Kansas National Guard as a Flight Instructor, Flight Operations NCO, and Senior Operation Sergeant, and rose to the rank of SFC(P), by the time he retired in 1974 with 23 years of service. His unit was called up to active duty during the Vietnam War, where he served as the Rear Detachment Sergeant for the 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, CO . He was also a member of the American Legion.

In June of 1974 he moved his large family across the country to San Diego, CA where Jerry and Geri first owned a 7-11 store, before owning 2 successful businesses, Geri’s La Jolla and Geri’s West, in La Jolla CA. The family ran the businesses until 1988 at which time Jerry and Geri sold their home and business and moved back to Kansas City, MO to help care for family members and several of the kids followed.

After a short retirement, Jerry and Geri opened Grandpa’s Train Depot in Parkville, MO for 2 years, and then followed with a 17 year employment with Via Bank Courier.

Geri was a member of St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, and in 1990 Jerry became a Catholic also. He immediately became an Usher, Daily Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister at Mass and to the shut ins, Sponsor for The RCIA Program, Marriage Encounter Lead Couple, Religious Classes for students, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a “very” active member of the Social Outreach Team helping with the Food Pantry, Thrift Store, Sunday Donuts & Coffee, and anything else that came up that Geri “needed him to do”- her Right Hand.

He will be remembered by his kind smile, his big embrace and his sweet soul.

In lieu of flowers any contributions should be made to St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church Social Outreach.