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Nancy Raechel Townsend, 85, of Newton died on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at her home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service and again after the service with a lunch at the funeral home. Memorials in Nancy’s name (checks made payable to Wayne Biehl) may be left at the funeral home.
Nancy, the daughter of Zenas Floyd and Mary Elizabeth (Irwin) Stevens, was born on April 19, 1939, in Newton. She grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1957. Nancy worked for Midland Manufacturing, TRS Roofing, Coast-to-Coast, and then for the YMCA Early Childhood Education Center. On October 6, 1978, Nancy was united in marriage with Kenneth E. Townsend in Newton. She attended Newton First Baptist Church and enjoyed bowling, going on car rides with family and friends, and attending her grandchildren’s events.
Nancy is survived by her children, Deb (Mike) Schuring of Pella, Nancy Stevens of Newton, Wayne (Robyn) Biehl of Ankeny, Randall Biehl (Heidi Anderson) of Newton, and Dianna Townsend of Grinnell; grandchildren, Alex Schuring, Shane Donegan (James Sargent), Sarah (Caleb) Herman, Erica Stevens, Kale (Isabel) Biehl, Fuller Biehl (Riley Jarnagin), and Acacia Biehl; her great-grandchildren, Hendrix, Maverick, and Rockwell Herman; and her sister, Teddy Van Hoosen of Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth Townsend; daughter, Carol Biehl; son, Kenneth “Todd” Townsend, and grandchildren, David and Andrea Schuring.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy R (Stevens) Townsend, please visit our floral store.