DeWain Townsend

DeWain Townsend, 98, life-long resident of Dowagiac, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 28, 2020 at his home in Dowagiac with his children all surrounding him. He went home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. DeWain was born March 29, 1921 to Jesse and Maud (Stretch) Townsend. He married the love of his life, Leona Hodges on June 14, 1941 where they made their home in Dowagiac. He was called to serve his country during World War II. He was a Sergeant in the United States Army and worked in the station hospital as a clerical clerk and medic. He served overseas for three years in Northern Africa and Southern Italy. Once he returned home, they started on their family and had six children DeWain worked at Bendix, Rudy Manufacturing, Park Estates, Co-owner of Lynn Manufacturing, Jessup Door. He used his business knowledge to help his children get their businesses established. He was a long member of the First Christian Church where he served many years on the board. His later years he became a member of the Michiana Church of Christ. He served on the school board for Dowagiac Public Schools. He was a member of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship and served as President for a time. He loved to farm part-time, hunt, fish, and spending time with his family. One of his favorite versus in the Bible is Psalms 91:1-2,16 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” That is what he had learned, to trust in the Lord all his life, and to live by it. 16:” With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” He understood in his long life, the grace of God. DeWain is survived by his children, LeWain (Don) Crandall, Colleen Thoreen, Weldon (Kathleen) Townsend, Larry (Diana) Townsend, Jesse (Margaret) Townsend, and Jackie (Patrick) Leets; his grandchildren, Jason (Keish) Crandall, Kyle Crandall, Dragan Tosic, Richard (Heydy) Thoreen, Zachariah (Valerie) Thoreen, Michiliene (Stephan) Lorenz, Rachel (Ron) Hull, Sarah DeLeeuw, Caleb (Kelly) Townsend, Andrea (Peter) Stachowicz, Courtney (Benjamin) Bosse, Stephen Townsend, Taylor Kathryn Townsend, Joshua (Heidi Jill) Leets, Heather (Mark) Patishnock, Jacob (Abby) Leets, Heidi (Landon) Henson; and his great grandchildren, Sebastian Crandall, Gracie Rose Crandall, Remington Crandall, Judah Thoreen, Yentl Thoreen, Amariah Thoreen, Evangeline Thoreen, Zane Thoreen, Tirzah Lorenz, Zadok Lorenz, Zephaniah Lorenz, Kayley Hull, Nicholas Hull, Nora Townsend, Wesley Townsend, Mason Stachowicz, Jayden Stachowicz, Mila Stachowicz, Aubriana Stachowicz, Jasmine Bosse, Xavier Bosse, Markus Bosse, Lucas Kee, Seth Leets, Josiah Leets, Autumn Leets, Levi Leets, Addison Patishnock, Alaina Leets, Alivia Leets, Sierra Leets, Sophia Leets, Lillian Henson, Nolan Henson. He is preceded in death by his wife, Leona Townsend in 2011, his son-in-law, W. Richard Thoreen in 2019, his sisters, Irene Phelps and Pauline Swett, and his parents. Services will be held privately.