John C. Townsell , Sr.

John C. Townsell, 79, of East Moline, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at
UnityPoint Health-Trinity, Rock Island, Illinois.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Mt. Zion Missionary
Baptist Church, East Moline. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Illinois.
Pastor P. Wonder Harris will officiate.  Visitation will be two hours prior to services. 
Memorials may be made to the family.

John was born on February 4, 1946 in Coatopa, Alabama, a son of Grant Townsell, Sr. and
Essie (Jefferson) Townsell. He attended Slack-Legrand High School in Wilmont, Arkansas,
graduating in 1965, where he excelled in basketball. He married Edna Turner on November
1, 1980 in Rock Island, Illinois. John retired from John Deere Foundry, East Moline, IL.,
after 30 years as a welder.

John loved gardening, fishing, spending time with family and golfing; this lead to him
volunteering many years at the John Deere Classic. He will be remembered for his
pancakes and applesauce. He was also co-owner and operator of Townsell Janitorial
Service. 

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Nenda (Dena) Tyson, East Moline, IL;
his son, John (Mei) Townsell, Jr. of Wayne, PA; grandchildren, Alex Tyson, John C.
Townsell III, and Victoria Townsell; brothers, Frank Townsell, Sr. of East Moline, IL., and
Joe L. (Glenda) Townsell, Sr. of Galesburg, IL; sisters, Carrie B. Akers and Rosie L.
Townsell of East Moline, IL., Sallie Townsell of Galesburg, IL., Evora Baker of Indianapolis,
IN., Delois Townsell of St. Petersburg, FL., and Betty (Mickey) Brown of Oklahoma City,
OK; special friend, Letha Birch of Rock Island, IL. brother-in-law, Oran (Bernice) Turner of
East Moline, IL; sisters-in-law, Carol Jean Hooks of Omaha, NE., Sharon Parks of Rock
Island, IL., Rose Turner of Carson, CA, and Catherine Turner of Bellwood, IL; and a host of
nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Townsell, his son, Timothy Johnson; his
parents, Grant & Essie Townsell, his brothers, M.C. Townsend, Grant Townsell, Jr., Richard
Townsell, Sr., Nedion Townsell, Sr., Jessie Townsell; sisters, Ida Mae Townsell, Bessie
Welch and Callie Bostick; brothers-in-law, LaVerne R. Akers, Cloman Conley, Jr., Michael
Welch, Sr., David Bostick, James and Darrell Turner, Lexius King, Rev. Robert Hooks,
Donald Hooks and Paul Parks, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Doretha Townsell, Bernetta Wolford,
Mattie Townsell, and Yvonne Hooks.

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