Theodore Townsend Sr.

Loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather Theodore E. Townsend Sr. age 90, of St. Louis, MI, passed away Monday, February 20, 2017, at Masonic Pathways, Alma, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Nativity of the Lord Parish - Mt. St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Louis, MI at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 23, 2017, with Rev. Fr. Nate Harburg officiating.  Burial will take place at Jasper Township Cemetery, Midland County, MI.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 from 5-8. PM at Smith Funeral Homes St. Louis, MI. A Rosary will be prayed at 8:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.  Visitation will also be held on Thursday, February 23, 2017 from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at the church.
Ted was born in Alma, MI on December 8, 1926, the son of Milton Coan and Frances Lucille (Morehouse) Townsend.  His life was full of joy and the creation of much happiness for others.  He attended St. Louis Elementary School.  St. Louis High School, and Henry Ford Trade School in Lansing MI.  Ted married Helen Strpko on January 14, 1950 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Louis, MI, and never looked back.  Helen, the love of his life gave him five children, a steady support in life and a wonderful dance partner.  He adopted her ancestral love of polkas and through his constant good humor, gregarious nature and ceaseless motion became loved by all.
Ted served his country in the United States Navy during World War II, serving in the Pacific during the ending years of the war.  He worked for many places including his family business, Townsend's Flowers in St. Louis, Michigan Chemical for 13 years, and retired from Powell's Plumbing and Heating in 1989. After retirement he went to work at Alward-Carter Funeral Home. Ted was a member of the American Legion #256, St. Louis VFW Post #3055, and the Czechoslovak Society of America #408. He enjoyed fishing and spending time at Higgins Lake with generations of family and friends and he loved his "wild forty" where he learned to hunt both deer and morel mushrooms with equal excitement.  A wonderful father and grandfather he spent countless hours visiting, transporting and entertaining them all.  He loved his practical jokes, his endless, mostly incomplete projects, his barn, and his goldfinch yellow 1955 Buick.  He collected antiques and tools, could fix nearly anything, and was always on the lookout for the best deal of the day.  He made each life he touched better and much more smile filled than they otherwise would have been.
He is survived by his wife Helen Townsend, children; Kathleen and Tom Wilmoth, Theodore and Cathy Townsend Jr., Steven and Cathie Townsend, Joann Townsend and Russ Clubine, Carl and Terri Townsend, 15 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and his brother George and Lois Townsend.  He was preceded in death by his parents Milton and Frances (Morehouse) Townsend, and sisters; Marjorie Hoffman and Jane Keene.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion Post #256 St. Louis, MI, VFW Post #3055, or Mt. St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Louis, MI.
Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI.