TOWNSEND, Robert P. (1917-1990)

TOWNSEND, ROSE, FORMANEK, YEAKEL, ROE, BUCK

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 5/1/2023 at 13:39:46

Robert Townsend
1917-1990

Services for Robert Townsend, 72, of Garner, who died Sunday, Jan. 14, 1990 at his home in Garner, will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner with Rev. Msgr. John Chihak as officiant. Ron McCabe will be lector.

Mrs. Carolyn Kumsher, organist, will accompany the church choir. Ushers will be Frank Falada, Dick Frein, Elmer Urich and Robert Kral.

Honorary bearers will be Don Greiman, James Yeakel, Dan Wagner, Charles Roe and Bill Roe.

Casket bearers will be Shawn Foy, Robert Waite, Greg Yeakel, Randy Yeakel, Drew Townsend and Don Nowak.

Burial will be in St. Boniface Cemetery in Garner with graveside military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. A rosary by the St. Boniface Men's Society will be held at 7 p.m. and a Scriptural Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner.

Robert Paul Townsend, the son of J. M. and Johanna Sophia (Rose) Townsend, was born December 20, 1917 on a farm near Britt. After graduating from Britt High School in 1935, he farmed with his parents. January 3, 1942, he entered the U. S. Army and served in the Infantry in the Pacific Theater, where he received a Bronze Star. After the service, he worked as a carpenter for a year at Iowa City and then moved to Garner, where he was employed at Roe's Super Valu.

September 18, 1950, he married Helen L. Formanek at St. Wenceslaus Catholic church in Duncan. They farmed from 1952, until they retired in 1986, with A. E. Rasmussen, north of Garner. In December of 1986, they moved into Garner.

Bob especially enjoyed gardening and sports. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, St. Boniface Men's Society, the North Garner Community Club, the Garner V.F.W. of which he was a past-commander and the V. F. W. Firing Squad.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Townsend of Garner; two sons, Thomas Paul Townsend and his wife, Kathleeen of Garner and Joseph Michael Townsend of Garner; three grandchildren, Matthew, Raechelle and Christopher; a brother, Marvin Townsend and his wife, Lucille of Garner; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Yeakel and her husband, Duane of Kanawha and Mrs. Lucille Roe and her husband, Don of David, CA; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Erwin (Laura) Buck of Britt.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Alexander Townsend and Alvin Townsend; and an infant sister, Marian Townsend.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 17 Jan 1990, page 6, column 2