Wallace George "Wally" Towne (1932-2005)

TOWNE, PENROD, ANDERSEN, GAVELE, PETERSON

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

Wallace (Wally) George Towne, the son of Harry and Jesse (Penrod) Towne, was born in Twin Lakes, Minnesota on February 2, 1932. He grew up in the Twin Lakes area with his five brothers and three sisters. He also attended school in Emmons, Minnesota and graduated from Emmons High School in 1950.

He was enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on June 12, 1951, and served his country during the Korean Conflict until his honorable discharge in June, 1954.

Wally was united in marriage to Madonna Andersen on December 5, 1954, at the Emmons Evangelical Lutheran Church in Emmons, Minnesota. They made their home in Albert Lea, Minnesota where Wally worked as a shoe department salesman. They then moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where Wally attended and graduated from the Moeller Barber School. Following graduation January 5, 1958, they moved to Hartley where Wally began an 18 month internship. Wally was a barber in Hartley for 45 years until having to retire due to health reasons. He and Madonna remained together in Hartley until Madonna's death on April 18, 2002.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Jeff, Debbie, Tom, and Larry; eight grandchildren; one brother, Earl Towne and his wife, Dorothy of Twin Lakes, Minnesota; one sister, Loretta Gavele of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Preceding him in death where his parents; his wife; four brothers: Howard, Glenn, Lloyd and Marvin; two sisters, Violet Peterson and Vern Peterson [sic].

Wally was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and a proud member of the American Legion in Hartley where he had been a member since 1958. Wally loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, golf and playing bridge. During his lifetime, he served on many boards in the community. Wally took great pride in his grandchildren and will be remembered for loving his family.

Funeral services in memory of Wallace G. Towne were conducted Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at the Hartley Funeral Home Chapel in Hartley, Iowa. Rev. David Ericksen officiated. Pallbearers were Bill Pippy, Jerry Roth, lan McNally, Clancy McNally, Wyatt Towne and Gage Towne. Interment was in Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Military Graveside Services were conducted by Arthur W. Kirchhoff Post #288, Hartley American Legion. Hartley Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, 22 Dec 2005, p4