Alice A. (Clute) Townsend

Alice A.(Clute) Townsend, age 83,  passed away on November 12, 2021 after a short illness.

Alice was born on February 17, 1938 in Marshall to Starla and Berdine (Hamilton) Clute. She graduated from Marshall High School in 1956 and went on to graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in Audiology and Speech.. On July 19, 1959, she married Jack H. Townsend at the Marshall Baptist Church. Together they shared 52 years of marriage.  Jack preceded her in death on February 16, 2012.

Alice worked for a short time for Marshall Public Schools at Gordon School. While raising her family, she did payroll for the family business, Michigan Kitchen Distributors, located in Marshall.  Alice was very active in the Marshall Community as a volunteer.  Alice was part of the founding group that started The Women’s Philanthropic Circle of Marshall which supports local community needs.  She also served as a volunteer for the Marshall Fountain Clinic, the Oaklawn Hospital Auxiliary, and the Marshall United Methodist Church.

Alice was most happy supporting her family, especially her grandchildren.  Yearly Family vacations were always a joy as she was surrounded by those she cherished.  She  was very proud of her children and her grandchildren.  Alice will be remembered as a gracious lady, with a kind smile, and caring personality.

She is the loving mother of Cindy (Terry) Lake, Jack (Susan) Townsend, and Steve Townsend.  Cherished grandmother to Andy (Tamar) Lake, Jenna Lake, Jack Townsend II (Vesna Gavrilovic), Emily (James) Hinske, Bradley Townsend, Mary Townsend, Sara Townsend, Grace Townsend, and Ryan Townsend..  Dear Great Grandma to Tamar and Ethan Lake, Charna, Kasija and Jack Townsend, and Rylan Hinske. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack H. Townsend; her parents, Starla and Berdine Clute, and her sister Anita Gauss.

Visitation will take place 4-6pm on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services 723 US Hwy 27 N Marshall MI 49068. Funeral services celebrating her life will take place at 11am on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Memorial contributions are requested to Oaklawn Hospital, 200 N Madison Street, Marshall MI 49068 ( https://oaklawnhospital.org/ ) or the Marshall United Way, 614 Homer Road Marshall MI 49068 ( https://marshallunitedway.com/ ). Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Funeral Home. Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guestbook at https://www.kempffuneralhome.com