Mike Townsend, Who Worked For the National Park Service In Copper Center, Has Passed Away

Mike Townsend Also Once Worked On Top Of Haleakala Volcano On The Island Of Maui 

Mike was a visual information specialist in Alaska at Wrangell-St. Elias from 2017 to the present. He managed the park visitor center for a year, from 2016 to 2017. Before that, he was a park ranger at the National Mall in downtown Washington DC for almost five years, between 2011 and 2016. He served the public as a park guide in Moab, Utah, from 2008 to 2011. He worked in Hawaii at Haleakala National Park as a park interpreter from December 1999 to April 2008. Mike attended California State University, where he got a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology and played soccer. 

In his job with travelers at the top of the volcano in Maui, Mike gave cultural talks. He told the Country Journal once how he blew a traditional South Pacific conch shell for visitors to the National Park there  – and then demonstrated a spirited Hawaiian war song  which he sang as part of his interpretive presentation. 

Mike died of natural causes, at home, at the age of 58.

(PHOTO BY MIKE TOWNSEND) 

May 4th, 2012

TROOPER REPORT:

Location: Glennallen

Type: Death Investigation 

Dispatch Text:

On 2/5/25 at approximately 2049 hours, Glennallen AST received a report of a deceased male at a residence in the Silver Springs subdivision. AST responded and investigation revealed Michael Townsend age 58, of Copper Center was deceased. There were no signs of foul play and the State Medical Examiner was notified. 

Next of kin was identified and has been notified. 

Posted on 2/6/2025 11:13:48 AM by DPS\jcsomerville