Alan Townsend

Funeral services for Alan Townsend, 58 of Conde, SD will be held at 11:00am, November 2nd at the United Methodist Church, Groton, SD with Pastor Brandon Dunham officiating.  Burial will follow at the Scotland Cemetery, just north of his farm, under the direction of Paetznick-Garnes Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held in Groton, at the United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 1st from 5 to 7 pm with a prayer service at 7pm.  Family will be present and will be following all CDC guidelines.  Masks are strongly encouraged and will be available.

Alan passed away unexpectedly, October 28, 2020 at his Conde farm mending fences, preparing to move cattle home from the pasture. 

Alan James Townsend was born December 17, 1961 in Webster, SD to Russell and Marjory (Murray) Townsend.  He was the 6th of 8 children.   He attended Groton School, with Sandi Oliver as his first teacher.  Alan graduated from Groton High School in 1980 where he was part of the Wrestling team, wrestling at a weight of 145lbs. Alan fondly reminded his grandchildren, that he rode the school bus every day from kindergarten through his senior year. 

Alan’s favorite part of school, each year, was when the farm children could go home for 7 to 10 days in the spring to help their parents plant the crops and again in the fall for harvesting.  He knew then, that farming would be his lifelong passion.

His love of farming began at an early age, creating a farm by utilizing rocks as his cattle herd and various gadgets pretending to be his equipment playing from dawn to dusk.  He rode horses bareback and practiced his preaching to all that would listen while baptizing his sisters many, many times. Through Sunday School. he learned to love the Lord and shared this blessing with his family.

Alan farmed and raised Black Angus cattle alongside his father, Russell, for 30 years in the Andover and Conde areas.  This was referred to as on-the-job training, and he loved going to this job every day.  Each day was a new adventure on the farm.  Alan and Zach, shared a special bond, tilling the soil, picking rocks, planting beans and corn, putting up hay, planting trees, expanding and making improvements to the farms, and raising and tending to the cattle.  We will remember the sparkle in his eyes, as his efforts were rewarded with the harvesting of the crops and the birth of the new baby calves.  Our hearts will be filled with these memories as each season passes. 

Farmers always pray for sunshine and rain; Alan was no different.  Rain brought Alan and the love of his life, Jolene (Olson) Barton, together when they met on a rainy weekend.  This treasure of sunshine and rain united the two in marriage on February 10, 1996 at the Groton United Methodist Church.

Alan will be remembered for his strong faith, his love for his mother, wife, family and his many friends in the community, his humble beginning, his love for the land, and most for his sense of humor. 

In his free time, if he had any, but always finding it for his grandchildren, would travel to watch them play ice hockey and softball.  Family and friends would gather at their home on Lake Kampeska, Watertown, SD where they would relax on or in the water, where many stories and memories were made.

Celebrating his life is his wife, Jolene of Conde, his mother, Marjory of Andover, his family, Zachary, Stephanie and Henry Townsend of Conde; Chad, Tashia, and Madison, Trey, CJ Barton, Gage Weeks (Maci Bradly), Dustin, Chantel Engel and great-grandchildren, Aubrie, Easton and Laikyn Engel all of Watertown.  Alan is also survived by his 7 siblings, David (Judy) Townsend of Denver, CO; Gary (Julie) Townsend of Sioux Falls, SD; Janell (Larry) Little of Madison, SD; Bonnie Townsend of Santa Fe, NM; Janet Deuel of Aberdeen, SD; Dona (John) Schulte of Derby, KS; Laura (Gene) Soukup of Wagner, SD, and many nieces and nephews.  Special friends Robert Pigors and Alex Doran.

Preceding him in death was his father, Russell and his brother-in-law, Dean Deuel.

Pallbearers are Dan Krueger, Travis McGannon, Dan Schinkel, Ron Kroll, Dennis Marske and Roni Dobberpuhl.  Honorary Pallbearers, who he loved dearly, are his grandchildren, great-children, nieces and nephews.  Ushers are Lon Gellhaus, Brad Morehouse and Lars Hanson.

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