Donald Eugene Townswick (1929-1952)

TOWNSWICK, HANDELAND, FAGERLAND, OLSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/22/2021 at 20:49:07

From Nevada Evening Journal February 9, 1952 (page 4)

Funeral Services Held In Story City Tues. For S-Sgt. Donald Townswick

STORY CITY -- Funeral services for S/Sgt. Donald E. Townswick were held in Story City Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 in the home and 2:00 in St. Petri Lutheran church, the Rev. Ivar Havneros officiating.

Special music was provided by Mrs. Robert Hermanson, who sang at both services and the high school boy octet, who sang "Abide With Me." Mrs. Hermanson's numbers were "Take Time to be Holy" and "One Sweetly Solemn Thought."

Serving as casket bearers were Bertram Amlund, Huxley, Leslie Mathre, Story City, Argyle Townswick and De Wayne Tesdall, Ames, Charles Anderson, Stanhope and Paul Keintz, Atwater, Minn.

Military rites were conducted by American Legion Post 59 at the Story City cemetery where the body was laid to rest.

Obituary

Donald Eugene Townswick, the youngest son of Olaf and Nora Townswick, was born March 3, 1929 in Story City, Ia. He was baptized March 31, 1929 by Rev. W. B. Searvie and was confirmed in the St. Petri Lutheran church by Rev. S. T. Nelson. He met his untimely death in an auto accident near Fairchild Air Base, Spokane, Washington on January 29, 1952 at the age of 22 years, 10 months and 26 days.

Donald graduated from the Story City high school in May 1947. That same year he enlisted in the U. S. Air Corps for three years. He was stationed at Greenville, South Carolina. After he received his discharge from the Air Corps in April 1951, he was employed as an accountant at the Atomic Research plant at Iowa State college.

In March of 1951 he was recalled for duty in the military service reporting to the 92nd Bombardment Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Wash. This April he was to have entered the Aviation Cadet Pilot school, having already passed all his required examinations

Donald is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Townswick of Story City, two brothers, Capt. Carlyle Townswick of Spokane, Wash., and Harold Townswick, R. M. 1 of the U. S. Coast Guard of Toledo, Ohio; three sisters, Mrs. Elsie Handeland of Nevada, Ia., Mrs. Kathryn Fagerland of Roland and Mrs. Margaret Olson of Story City; four little nephews, Michael and Jerry Lee Fagerland, Robert C. Townswick and Terry Lynn Olson, also survived by many other relatives and friends.

Of his 22 short years of life, Donald gave four to training in the service of his country. We ask for his eternal peace.

Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. Nellie Thompson, Montevideo, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Paul Keintz, Atwater, Minn., Mr.a nd Mrs. Johnson, Eau Claire, Wisc., Charles Howland of the Air Corps, Denver, Colo., Capt. Carlyle Townswick, R. M. 1, Detroit, Mich.

Mrs. Nelle Potter of Des Moines and two daughters from San Francisco, Cal., Mr. and Mrs. Sam Townswick, Hardy, Ia., Mrs. Jack Shipman, Ft. Dodge, Stanley Townswick, Iowa City, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Howland, Eagle Grove, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Amlund, Huxley, Ruth Amlund, Argyle Townswick, De Wayne Tesdall and Mrs. Carrie Apland, all of Ames.

Charles Anderson of Stanhope, Mrs. Opal Cathcart of Boe, Mrs. Margrethe Jorgenson, Mrs. C. C. Petersen, Mrs. August Rasmussen, Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Ingebritson, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Carlson and family and Mr. and Mrs. Scott Kalvig, all of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Handeland of Nevada, Mr. and Mrs. Conroy Fagerland and many others from neighboring towns.