Suzanne Rachelle Townsend

Suzanne Rachelle (Vogelbacher) Townsend passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully surrounded by her loving family, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, after a courageous battle with Endometrial cancer at the age of 75.
Sue was born on October 10, 1950, in Graceville, Minnesota to Russell and Phyllis (Sealey) Vogelbacher. She grew up in the Graceville/Beardsley area alongside her brothers, Stu, Steve and Sid and her sister Sheila. She attended high school in Graceville, where she met the love of her life Ronnie Townsend. She graduated from high school in 1968 and moved to Minneapolis, where she worked at IDS doing a few different jobs.
Sue and Ron were married on September 4, 1971, and made their home in Plymouth, where they raised two children, Tiffany and Rusty. She was active in her children's lives, attending many sporting events for volleyball and hockey, Tiffany's band concerts and marching band performances, and making lifelong friends during Rusty's hockey career. She could be heard from the stands yelling 'Go Blue' on any given game day. She enjoyed many family trips camping in their RV, road trips in their 1946 Oldsmobile to Street Rod Nationals, hockey tournaments, and extended family time at the Vogelbacher family cabin. She and Ron owned and operated Townsend Import Service from their garage for over 30 years. Sue was running the show behind the curtain as the bookkeeper, estimator, parts orderer, and customer coordinator. She also worked a couple of evening part time jobs just to keep busy, after the kids left the house.
Sue was a great wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend. She loved taking care of her family and friends by making sure their bellies were full, and their faces hurt from laughing at all her funny stories. She loved being a grandmother the most and often told people, 'Being a grandma is the best'. She attended everything that the grandkids were in, including swimming lessons, choir and band concerts, basketball games, gymnastic lessons, you name it, she was there. She loved that the kids and grandkids enjoy old cars, they never missed a Back to the Fifties show with their extended car family. Sue and Ron were able to travel with the grandkids on a couple of spring break trips and made lasting memories. She was a game player, sometimes making her own rules along the way and was often found playing a game of Scrabble with family at the cabin.
Sue is preceded in death by her parents Russell and Phyllis Vogelbacher; her in-laws James and Bernice Townsend; and many friends and relatives.
She will be greatly missed by her loving husband of 54 years, Ron; her children, Tiffany (Brad) Townsend Lay and Rusty (Anna) Townsend; her grandchildren: Hope, Elijah and Leah Townsend Lay; Her siblings, Stuart (Mavis) Vogelbacher, Sheila (Walter) Wulff, Steve (Judy) Vogelbacher and Sid (Janet) Vogelbacher; her brothers-in-law, Gary Townsend and Stan (Deb) Townsend; her sister-in-law, Janice Townsend and many cousins, nieces and nephews, cherished friends and neighbors.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00am Thursday, November 13 at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 105 Forestview Ln N Plymouth, with visitation one hour prior to service. A family interment will take place at a later date in Graceville.
Sue was the life of a party, and she wanted everyone to have the chance to celebrate her life. Join us for food, drinks and laughs on Saturday November 15 at 4:30pm at Trappers Bar and Grill, 6810 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Friends and family of Sue are invited to attend one or both events.