John Franklin Townsend

TOWNSEND, KIME, SWORD, KISTLER, BURKERT, NAEVE, WADE, PADILLA, STRUVE

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/9/2006 at 13:33:26

The Clinton Herald
Published: October 06, 2006 11:52 pm

John Franklin Townsend

John Franklin Townsend, 82, of Clinton, died Saturday, September 23rd, 2006, at Bluff Terrace Nursing Home Facility, Clinton. He was born August 30th, 1924 to Harvey and Edith Kime Townsend. He married Natalie Helen Sword Kistler on October 8th, 1946 in Clinton. She died September 5th, 2001. John was a 1942 graduate of Clinton High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1946.

Honest John or Cutie as some people remembered him was manager of Machael Oil Co. for 30 years. He later owned and operated Downtown Sunoco and The Gas Shoppe on Bluff Boulevard. As hard working as he was, John continued to work at RockTenn for ten more years and then for Cagley Security as a guard for Dupont checking semi traffic through the plant gates. At last retiring to spend time with a very special friend and companion Georgetta Burkert, her children, Dr. L. L. (Terry) Burkert and their family and Sherry (Richard) Naeve and their son. He also spent very special time and holidays with his three daughters Marilee (Vance) Wade of Clinton, their 3 children and 6 grandchildren, Michele Padilla of Lancaster, California and her 5 children and 3 grandchildren and Margret (Paul) Struve and their 8 children and 4 grandchildren. He was a member of the Clinton Church of Christ, Emulation of Masonic Lodge 255, Kaaba Shrine, Clinton Scottish Rite Bodies, Clinton High 12 Club, President of the Clinton Jaycees in 1957 and President of the Clinton Baseball Club in the 60’s. Last but not least... John will always be remembered as the Popcorn man for the Hicks Carmel Corn Stand and Grandpa John’s Lemonade Stand at the 4th of July RBD celebrations for many years. The family requests that memorials be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital. He was survived by 1 brother, Martin Townsend of Ohio and 3 daughters Marilee (Vance) Wade of Clinton, Michele Padilla of Lancaster, California and Margret (Paul) Struve of Clinton, 29 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and Georgetta Burkert, a very special friend and companion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, 3 brothers, 1 sister and an infant son.

John F. Townsend

Clinton, Iowa

August 30, 1924 - Sept. 23, 2006