Joyce Townsend

Joyce Townsend, age 86, formerly of Sun City West, Arizona and Yankton, South Dakota, passed away July 9, 2015 at the Pomerado Hospital, Poway, CA. Memorial services will be 2:00 PM, Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at the United Church of Christ (Congregational), Yankton, SD with Rev. Molly Carlson officiating. Burial of her cremated remains will be the Yankton Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 7 PM, Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD and then one hour prior to the service at the church.

Joyce was the beloved wife of George Alan Townsend for sixty-six wonderful years. Born December 15, 1928 in Silver Creek, Nebraska, daughter to the late Howard and Alvena (Mohlman) Potter, she graduated from Columbus High School in 1947 and attended Business School in Omaha, Nebraska.

She married George A. Townsend on July 10, 1949 at the Methodist Church in Columbus, NE. They lived in Watertown, SD for eight years before moving to Yankton in 1960. Joyce was the first licensed woman real estate broker in Yankton, served on a number of real estate boards, and was active in the real estate business for twenty-one years.

Joyce was an avid golfer, enjoying tournaments, ladies leagues, and playing with her husband and friends. Playing bridge, reading, traveling, and keeping up with her grandchildren kept her busy into retirement. Always a classy lady, Joyce enjoyed "dressing to the nines" for any occasion with her matching bags filled with lemon drops and lipstick. She was also a member of the United Church of Christ for over 50 years.

She is survived by her husband, George; two daughters, Deborah Haffner and husband Scott of South Windsor, CT, Jolaine Pokorney and husband Doug of Rapid City, SD, and son, Alan Townsend and wife Marjorie of San Diego, CA. Joyce leaves behind six grandchildren: Todd (Alicia) Haffner, Katie (Rob) Gustavesen, Jamie (Jeremy) Pond, Kristi Pokorney, Stacie Townsend, and Thomas Townsend and two great-grandsons Ethan and Blake Haffner and many special nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind siblings, Joan (Keith), Donald (Patsy), Bud (Gayle), and Janice (Gary).

Joyce was preceded in death by siblings Marvin, Carroll (Zelda), and Eldon (Betty).