Helen Townsend

Marjorie Helen (Hamman) Townsend, age 85, of Washta, Iowa, and Sun City, Arizona passed away on December 1, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Kingsley, IA with Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in Kingsley, IA. Visitation with family present will be 5-7 p.m. on Monday, with a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. at Kingsley Funeral Home & Monument in Kingsley, IA. Visitation will resume on Tuesday from 9:30-10:15 a.m. at the church. Services have been entrusted to Kingsley Funeral Home & Monument, kingsleyfh.com

Marjorie Helen Hammond was born May 22, 1940, in Kingsley, Iowa, the youngest of six children born to Thomas Leroy and Mary Catherine (Geiger) Hamman. She attended country school through second grade and spent her childhood outdoors—tending the garden with her mother, helping her father repair fences, cutting weeds from the cornfields, mowing the lawn, and driving tractor during the summers, especially after her father’s heart attack.

Helen graduated from Kingsley High School in 1958, where she was active in nearly everything offered. She played four years of basketball, accompanied the mixed chorus on keyboard for three years, participated in the school play, and played tenor saxophone for five years.

She continued her education at Iowa State University, graduating in 1962 with a major in mathematics and minors in English, physical education, and education. During her time at ISU, she served as President of the PE Majors and Minors Club, earned a place on the Dean’s List, and played on the very first women’s basketball team at Iowa State. In her senior year, she was honored as the Female Athlete of the Year.

On July 14, 1962, Helen married the love of her life, Roy Townsend. That fall she began her teaching career in Anthon, Iowa, instructing high school English, math, and biology. Over the years she taught high school mathematics, junior high English and math, and even a short period of physical education. Teaching was not just a career to her—it was a calling.

Helen and Roy were blessed with two children, Jerry Lee (1968) and Sandra Kay (1972), the absolute delights of her life.

Faith and music were central to Helen’s life. A talented pianist and organist, she served as a church organist for 33 years and taught religion classes to junior high and high school students at St. John’s Catholic Church in Quimby. She later became a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee.

Helen lived a vibrant and active life. She enjoyed gardening, swimming, horseback riding, golf, bowling, pickleball, cards and games, and camping with her family—especially at Hart Ranch Resort near Rapid City, South Dakota, where the family had been members since 1995. Summers often found her helping with fieldwork on the Townsend farm, driving truck, combining corn and soybeans, and even chasing the occasional hog or cow when needed.

She treasured family vacations, including memorable 50th- and 60th-anniversary trips with her children and grandchildren. Since 2011, Helen and Roy enjoyed winters in Sun City, Arizona, where they formed many cherished friendships—particularly with fellow golfers, bowlers, and pickleball enthusiasts. She loved entertaining neighbors and spending time with others who, like her, had roots in South Dakota.

Marjorie dearly loved her first family—her parents and five siblings—and treasured the family she built: her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She often said she had been blessed with many happy, healthy years and wonderful families, and she meant it wholeheartedly.

Survivors include: her husband, Roy of Washta, IA; her son, Jerry of Washta, IA, granddaughter, Justine (Thomas) Weir and their children Peyton Elizabeth, Addison Iris, and Brooklyn Nicole; granddaughter, Alexandra (fiancé Erik Larson); her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and James Westcott of Brandon, SD; her granddaughter Amanda and grandson Tyler.

She will be remembered for her kindness, her faith, her determination, and the love she poured into every person and every place she touched.