Born in 1942, DeWayne Townsend III, PhD, of Longfellow, died on July 2, 2024 after a 12-year battle with Parkinson's Disease.
He grew up in Brooten, Minn., and graduated from St. Olaf College, the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota.
He devoted his career to advance scientific knowledge ranging from genetics to bacterial biofilms. He spent 10 years of genetic research with the world's largest albinism population in Puerto Rico.
For 13 years, he was a scout master. Highlights were time spent at his Wisconsin lake home and yearly trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. He was deeply involved in community organizing with the Longfellow Community Council to help improve the city's neighborhoods.
DeWayne donated his body to the University of MN for the medical students to be used as a cadaver. After 18 months, his ashes will be returned to his family.
He is survived by sons from his marriage to Stella: DeWayne IV (Melanie) Townsend and Steven Townsend; and the stepchildren of his second marriage to Marcea Mariani (whom he wed in 1998): Marcellene Berrini (Mike) Wolke and Timothy (Sandra) Berrini. He has a brother, Frederick (Sara) Townsend. His parents were DeWayne II, MD and Clara Viola Townsend.
The Memorial Service shall be live streamed.
Thursday, August 1 at 1:00PM
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
2730 East 31st. Street; Minneapolis, on
Please, no flowers. Deceased preference for memorials sent to:
Defenders of Wildlife, 1130 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
