During the early morning hours Monday April 2, Diana left her family surrounding her to start her next journey free of pain. Born January 19, 1947 the second daughter of Dale and Alice Townsend. She was an East High school graduate, then continued on with a Master level degree in mental health care, substance abuse counseling. Diana married Dr. Steven Gleason right out of high school from that marriage their three sons were born that completed their family she cherished deeply.
After their marriage ended she moved to California where she took off in her own professional drive of helping others. Diana was the Program Manager for addictive diseases for Charter Hospital in Fountain Valley, Ca, from there a Clinical Director at New Beginnings Hospital in Lakewood Ca. During her time in California she married Bruce Bradley.
Diana returned to Des Moines in 1993 where she worked a short time at the Des Moines Register, she finished her work career before retiring from the Substance Abuse and Criminal counseling field at Fort Des Moines OWI Treatment facility. Diana enjoyed others life pleasures as if they were her own, encouraging everyone she knew and loved so strongly regardless of what they were dealing with. She was a woman of many words, dreams and fun idea's that she loved to share. Her flowers were so perfectly planted and cared for, her drawings showed her love of so many things, horses, people, dogs, colors, but mostly she loved her family. She had her "Lucy moments" which she could only laugh at, we never knew for sure what she may get into next.
Left to remember her are her three sons and their families. Mike Gleason (Nicole) children Alora, Rose. Tim Gleason (Takako) children Hanno, Takahiro. Chris Gleason (Misti) children Triston, Morgan, Ashton, Christian. Her brothers and sisters, Donna(Doran) Sawhill, Dean (Kellie) Townsend, Danny (Donna) Townsend, Denise Johnson, she was preceded in death by her parents Dale and Alice Townsend, her nephew Mark Sawhill, brother-in -law Greg Johnson, she is also survived by her nephews, nieces, cousin, friends who all loved her.
A funeral Mass will be held Saturday April 28th at 10 am Sacred Heart Church, West Des Moines burial at Resthaven Mausoleum. Memorial contribution can be made to the family where they will donate to: Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
