Obituary: Townsend, Jerry Dale

TOWNSEND, Jerry Dale

Jerry Dale Townsend, long time LaCrosse game farm operator, died Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

He was 59.

Jerry had sustained injuries in a 4-wheeler accident on his ranch near LaCrosse October 15th.

A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, February 18th at 1:00 PM at the Selbu Lutheran Church.

Pastor Dennis Bay will officiate.

Private inurnment will be in the family plot at Raymond, Washington.

Jerry was born July 2, 1952 in Aberdeen, Washington to Glen and Lucille Holmes Townsend.

He grew up in Montesano, often helping his parents in their grocery store, and graduated from high school there.

Jerry attended Washington State University in Pullman for a couple of years.

He married Lori Bogdanovich in 1973.

They moved to Ellensburg where Jerry completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Finance from Central Washington University.

They moved to Dayton, Washington where he began working in the banking industry and their young family was starting to grow.

In 1979 they moved to Colfax where Jerry worked for the SeaFirst Bank and later moved to LaCrosse where he managed the bank there.

Jerry and Lori divorced in 1992 and he took a leave of absence from banking.

Jerry loved camping, fishing and hunting, especially with his kids, and no doubt this love helped him when he decided to take over a game farm operation near LaCrosse.

For the last twenty years Jerry has operated the Pheasant Valley Shooting Preserve and Sporting Clays on his ranch outside LaCrosse.

During that time frame he was proud to have raised between three-quarters to one-million pheasants.

He loved working with and training bird dogs and was the envy of most hunters for the lifestyle he lead; most unknowing how much work it really was.

Jerry was a very hard worker and instilled that strong work ethic in his children.

He also loved to teach his children about farming and equipment.

He was always active in the communities wherever he lived.

He served in various chamber of commerce functions, was a member of the Lions Club and Kiwanis.

He was instrumental in the gazebo project at the LaCrosse Park and had served as finance chairman and he was very involved in the town’s effort to return a grocery store to LaCrosse.

At the time of his death, Jerry was the Vice-President of the store committee and his passion for any project he was involved in helped ignite others.

He loved working with local Whitman County farmers and maintained many long-lasting friendships with them.

He would say his greatest accomplishment was raising his kids, his love for his grandchildren, and raising birds.

He loved to share his passion for hunting and loved to teach other fathers and their sons about the sport; leaving a lasting impact on their lives.

Jerry is survived by three loving children; Adam (Amy) Townsend of Whiteville, TN, Kadi Townsend of Lacey, WA and Alison Townsend of Chehalis, WA; two grandchildren, Qianna Jerdae and Cash Adam Townsend; and a brother, Jim Townsend in Germany.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

To honor his memory the family has suggested donations be directed to the grocery store project in LaCrosse; LaCrosse Community Pride, P.O.

Box 321, LaCrosse, WA.

99143.

On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com.

BRUNING FUNERAL HOME OF COLFAX is caring for the family.