Laurine Regina Townsend Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Laurine Regina Townsend, age 86, of Blakesburg, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at the Monroe County Hospital in Albia. Laurine was born on April 30, 1933, in Jefferson County to Vince and Margaret (Rogall) Shelangoski. She grew up and attended school at Pleasant Plain near Brighton and graduated with the Class of 1950. She also later received her nurses training in Burlington. On June 6, 1953, she married Arthur Townsend at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fairfield, IA. To this union, 7 children were born, Vince, Michael, Steve, Mary, Vicki, Stan, and Pat. Laurine and Art shared nearly 60 years of marriage prior to his passing on May 30, 2013. Laurine worked as an LPN at the hospital in Fairfield, IA, and later worked as a home health aide for 19 years. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia and was involved with Garden Club in Blakesburg. She was an active member of the Lions Club in which she won several awards, including the Marvin Jones Award. She was very active in her children’s activities when they were younger, serving as a Room Mother in Batavia, a Girl Scout leader, a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, a 4-H leader and serving on the 4-H Council. Laurine enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs. Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Laurine is survived by her children, Vince (Meg) Townsend of Ottumwa, Steve Townsend of Blakesburg, Mary (Dale) Dohlman of Brighton, Vicki (Mike) Crabtree of Yuma, AZ, Stan (Missy) Townsend of State Center, and Pat Townsend of Albia; twelve grandchildren, Matthew, Lisa, Michelle (Dan), Bobby (Brandon), Jamie, Ashley (Demetrius), Austin, Zack, James, Zach, Samer,and Krista; and eight great grandchildren, Makayla, Hunter, Lilyana, Clara, Noel, Riley, Nathan, and Nevaeh. She is preceded in death by her husband, Art; her parents, Vince and Margaret; a son, Michael; a daughter-in-law, Roberta Townsend; a sister, Dorothy Shelangoski; 2 brothers-in-law, Richard Mullenix and Donald Townsend; a sister-in-law, Twyla Townsend; and 4 grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia with Laurine’s family present to greet family and friends from 4:00-8:00 p.m. A rosary will be held at 4:00 p.m. led by St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 8, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia, with Father Mark Yates, C.PP.S. and Father Tom Winikates officiating. Burial will follow services at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Albia. An open memorial has been established to be determined at a later date.

Laurine Regina Townsend

April 30, 1933 - October 30, 2019