Mr. John L. Townsley, 74, of Florence, IL passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.

John was born September 2, 1938, in Taylorville, the son of William and Lena Poletti Townsley. He was a graduate of South Fork High School. He retired from Peabody Coal Mine #10 at Pawnee as Chief Electrician on third shift, after working 35 years in the coal mines. He is, and has been the mayor of Florence, IL, for the past fifteen years. He operated B & J Karaoke Service in Central Illinois. He was a NASCAR and Sprint car enthusiast and sponsored a Sprint Car Driver. He loved doing anything outdoors. He was one of the original owners of the former B & J Speed Shop in Kincaid, and had operated a service station in Kincaid. He was a former member of U.M.W.A. Local 9819.

Surviving are his wife; Roan Townsley of Augusta, IL; Children; Annette (Martin) Wolfe of Oregon, IL, John (Susan) Townsley of St. Charles, MO; grandchildren, Rachel Wolfe of Winnetka, IL, Erik Wolfe of Denver, CO, Steven Townsley of Lawrence, KS and Emily Townsley of St. Charles, MO; Companion, Barbara Andrews of Florence, IL; brother, William J. Townsley of Chicago; sisters, Rosemary (James) Weistart of Rochester, Sue A. Paso of Kincaid, JoAnne (Tracy) Trelz of LasVegas, NV

Private family services with Pastor Linda Vonck were held.

Friends and family were invited to a celebration of John's life and a time of fellowship and sharing at 2:30 p.m. Saturday March 23, 2013 at the home of his sister, Sue A. Paso, in Kincaid.