Donald “Don” Ray Townsend, age 82, was born May 18th 1944 on the family farm in Illinois. He unfortunately passed away on September 18th 2026. Don got married to his love of his life Edith Marie McLaughlin in 1977, who has since passed away in December of 2022.
Once moving up to Wisconsin, Don worked for Chevrolet as a machinist in the 1960s, and ended up buying a GTO right off the line one day!! Which we still have to this day. Don then worked at Joe’s Standard gas station and garage in Merrill from late 1970s till late 1990s as a mechanic, and had made many connections from his work there, earning respect from many.
Don and Edith ended up moving out to Arizona, where Don also ran Don’s Auto in Bullhead City Arizona in the late 1990s till the early 2000s along side his son Dino Ray Townsend before retiring and moving back to Wisconsin.
From then on, him and Edith became snow birds, traveling back to Arizona during the winter months and coming back up in the summer months. Don and Edith had many friends in Arizona and expressed their hobbies while in Arizona, such as wood work and dressing up for various events. During the summer months Don and Edith would hold family get togethers throughout the months at their home in Merrill, it was a staple for them and was looked forward to by the family.
Don loved working on cars, playing with his many grand and great-grandchildren, watching the Packers play, and cracking open a cold one during a good thunderstorm. Don is now able to rest peacefully with Edith forever, and is survived by his siblings, his children, his many grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.
In honor of Don there is a celebration of life being held Saturday November 7th at Ascension Episcopal Church, at 218 Pier St in Merrill. It starts at 1pm, and a potluck will be held after the short service.
