Judith Marie (Tanking) Townsend

Judith Marie Townsend (Tanking), 86, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2022.  She was born September 19, 1935, at Burlington Memorial Hospital to Henry Theodore and Irene Eunice (Wood) Tanking. 

Raised in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, she attended Lake Geneva Schools and graduated from Lake Geneva High School in 1953.  Then while in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for employment and school, she met the love of her life, Dale C. Townsend, and married him October 29, 1955. They were married 55 plus years, when he died. Initially they lived in Illinois and then moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where Dale graduated from Pharmacy school (and Judy worked). They then lived in Illinois for many years and eventually moved to Williams Bay, Wisconsin after Dale retired. 

Judy, was happy being a wife and mother, also worked at many different jobs through her life, home health care, wallpaper hanging, pharmacy technician, home hospice care, and recreation director for the Village of Williams Bay, Wisconsin. She loved all of her “jobs”, as well as arts, crafts, reading, her family and friends. Upon retirement and Dale’s death, she and her daughters moved to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, to a condominium where she made more friends and loved the community. Judy volunteered as a guest speaker/instructor for a history class at the Middle School. Volunteering was part of her life, from early on, in most of the places they lived. 

Judy is survived by her three children, Julie, Lisa and Ross, daughter in-law Kellie, one grandson Jason Peterson, brother-in law Charles G. Townsend, plus many nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren. She loved them all and was so grateful for their lives.  Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Dale, her brother Henry Jr (Violet), and 3 sisters Etta (Ray) Clark, Alva Tanking, and Leah (Clyde) Osman.

Please join us in a Celebration of Life for Judy on June 6, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Lake Como Clubhouse, W3730 Clubhouse Drive, Lake Geneva, WI  53147. 

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Derrick Funeral Home is honored to be assisting Judith's family.

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