Donald W Townsend

CREVE COEUR ~ Donald W. Townsend, 59, of 312 Morton Street, passed away at 2:05 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2009 after a long battle with cancer at his home, surrounded by his family and friends. Born August 17, 1949 in Kirby, Oregon to Carl Alvin and Winnie Larue (Hassler) Townsend, he married Betty Lou Fanning on December 6, 1980 in East Peoria. She survives. Also surviving are his mother of London Mills; two daughters, Donelle (Tom) Randall of Washington and Schree' (Toby) Bozarth of Pekin; one son, Ronnie (Nancy) Kilgus II of North Pekin; five grandchildren, Christopher Wayne Randall, Hannah JoAnn Randall, Benjamin Thomas Randall, Olivia Rose Randall, and Mia Rose Bozarth; one sister, Carol (Charlie) Johnson of London Mills; and one brother, Peck (Diane) Hassler of Hope, Alaska. He was preceded in death by his father. Don worked as the Veteran's Assistance Comissioner for Tazewell County for 12 years. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Tazewell County 40 & 8, Voiture 1170, the American Legion Post #318 in Morton, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5921 in Morton. He loved gardening, mushroom hunting, and spending time with his grandchildren and his family. His memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Creve Coeur Chapel. The Rev. Jim Phillips will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m., prior to the service. Military rites will be provided by the United States Army and the Tazewell Military Rites Team.Memorial contributions may be made to the Bob Michel VA Outpatient Clinic, 411 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr, Peoria, IL 61605.