BREMEN-William Gene Town, 90, a wonderful son, husband, brother, father, grandfather, and friend who had a beautiful smile and a cowboy’s heart passed at 3:01 am (MDT) on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in Roundup Memorial Healthcare, Roundup, MT, following a brief illness. Bill was surrounded by his loving family members at the time of his passing. He was born on November 3, 1934, to Gwendolyn (Jennie) Emmogene (Ransbottom), and Orval Lee Town. Bill attended Argos Community Schools. Jennie gladly emancipated Bill when he was 17, allowing him to enlist in the Navy. Bill received his GED in 1965.
On September 12, 1953, Bill returned to Plymouth and married his soulmate, Lulu Belle Lacher. She remained in Plymouth while Bill was stationed in the Mediterranean on the USS Roosevelt as a refueler during the Korean War.
Following the War, Bill was stationed in Sanford, FL. Lulu Belle and their firstborn, Jacqueline, joined him and lived there until his honorable discharge in 1956 and they returned to civilian life in Argos to begin farming. In 1960, they relocated to Bremen to farm and milk cows for Beulah and Carl Moore. Bill and Lulu Belle lived in Bremen until her passing in June 2022. At that time, Bill moved to Winnett, MT, to live his remaining years with their daughter, Tina.
In the early 1970’s, the Moore’s asked Bill to leave the farm and join Moore Fencing. He ran the fence crew for the Moore’s until Carl became ill and Bill and Lulu Belle purchased the company and renamed it T & T Construction.
They went on to own and operate T & T Construction for several years, building fences and installing guardrails on Indiana state highways. When they dissolved T & T Construction in the mid-80’s, Bill became a heavy-equipment operator and retired in 1999 from the Operating Engineers Local 150. Bill joined the union in 1969 and was extremely proud of his Lifetime Membership Card.
Bill loved his family and enjoyed every minute spent with them. He was always willing to help with their next project, whether it was building a house or a new fence. His surviving children are Jacqueline Rensberger, Plymouth; Tina Balsley (Lyle Chamberlin), Winnett, MT; William O. (Mary Beth) Town, Plymouth; and Sherry (Larry) Swank, South Bend.
Grandchildren are Shawn (Elizabeth) Mattern, Brian (Leslie) Town, Tom (Genie) Town, Clint (Tara) Town, Brandi Mattern (Ken Parrish), Angel Balsley (Joel Harman), Travis (Lisha) Town, Lily Caroline Swank, and Chloe J Swank.
He was also blessed with 15 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
His siblings who survive him are brother Robert (Bob) Town, Bluffton, OH, and sister, Mary Wilhelm, Argos, IN.
He was predeceased by Lulu Belle; his parents, Jennie & Orval; son, Douglas Alan; and grandson, Jaxson William Augustus Swank.
The family would like to express their appreciation for the wonderful staff at Roundup Memorial Healthcare for their love, support, and wonderful care they provided both Bill and the family during his stay.
Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jaxson William Augustus Swank Foundation (JWAS), 3900 Edison Lakes Parkway, Suite 201, Mishawaka, IN 46545; Stillwater Hospice of Montana, 3737 Grand Avenue, Billings, MT 59102; or the Roundup Memorial Healthcare Foundation, 1202 Third Street West, Roundup, TM 59072.
Services will be held at Johnson Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 North Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. followed by a service at 3 p.m. officiated by Pastor Steve Wilhelm, Bill’s nephew. Burial services will follow the service at Richland Center Cemetery, 7085-7083 N 150 W, Rochester, IN with military honors being rendered by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.
Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be left for the family at www.johnson-danielson.com
