Chester Towne

Chester Howard Towne, 77, of Cumberland, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa.

Chester was born March 7, 1940, on the Schafer Hill homestead in Montgomery County, Iowa, to William Howard and Doris (Shaffer) Towne. He grew up in in the Red Oak, Iowa, area.

On August 4, 1961, he married JoAnn Abel in Red Oak. In 1966, Chet and JoAnn moved to Cumberland where they were longtime residents.

He worked as a welder for Schuler Manufacturing of Griswold, IA. Following his employment at Schuler Manufacturing, he became an over the road truck driver.

In his younger years, Chet enjoyed playing the guitar. He enjoyed going to dances with JoAnn, country music, fishing, and he loved to visit with family and friends. The highlight of his day was seeing his great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, JoAnn; a brother, DeLoy Towne; and a sister in infancy.

Surviving Chet is his son; Doug (Pam) Towne of Atlantic, IA; daughters, Tammy (Dave) Brown of University Park, IA, and Jules (Edie) Hancock of Duluth, MN; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Tyler) Allsup and their children Natalie and Bridget, Anne (Rush) Possehl and their daughter Kayla, Philip Ortgies, Joshua (Mary) Ortgies and their daughter Isabelle, Amanda Skow and her daughter Ryleigh, and Logan (Ashley) Skow and their daughter Oakley; a sister, Wanda Hughes of Stuart, IA; and a sister-in-law, Gail Towne of Corning, IA.

There will be a memorial visitation with family from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Saturday, August 5, 2017, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa.

The family will also greet friends at a lunch in Hockenberry's community room following the memorial visitation.

A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be left to the family’s wishes for designation at a later date.