Tom P. Townsend

Tom P. Townsend, 65, of Garner, passed away unexpectedly Monday, September 30, 2019 at his home.

A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Friday, October 4, 2019 at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., in Garner followed by a Scriptural wake service at 7 P.M. by Rev. Fr. Jim Dubert of St. Boniface Catholic Church. A Celebration of Life will follow the service at Mat’s Place in Garner.

Memorials may be directed to the Tom Townsend Memorial Fund.

Thomas Paul Townsend, the son of Robert and Helen (Formanek) Townsend, was born April 23, 1954 in Britt. He graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1972. He continued his education at NIACC in Mason City and Iowa State University in Ames where he was active in the Sigma Chi fraternity. He married Janet Nielsen and to this union two children were born, Matt and Raechelle. They lived in Forest City where they owned and operated the Pizza Villa restaurant for a few years. They then moved to Garner and operated the A & W Restaurant. After their divorce, Tom moved to Arizona and started a technical recruiting business, The Tucson Group. In 1984, he returned to Iowa and married Kathleen Weldon. To this union a son, Chris, was born. After Kathleen passed away in 2005, he continued to live in Garner. He enjoyed visiting with family and friends, listening to Jimmy Buffet and was an avid Iowa State Cyclone and San Francisco 49ers fan.

He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and Sigma Chi fraternity.

Tom is survived by his three children, Matt Townsend of Garner, Raechelle (Brendon) Gruis of Cedar Falls and Chris Townsend of Woden; three grandchildren, Alexandra Townsend and Cedric and Cora Gruis; a brother, Joe (Karen) Townsend of Garner; two uncles, Al (Pat) Formanek of Garner and Lewis (Mary Ann) Formanek of Phoenix, AZ; and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Kathleen.