Richard “Dick” Allen, 82, of Le Mars passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, November 21, 2015. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Rev. Kolleen Queener will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by Wasmer Post #241 of the American Legion. Visitation will begin at 9:00a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. The family will be present from 11:00 a.m. until service time.
Richard Eugene Allen was born on June 30, 1933, to Bruce and Alberta (Richards) Allen, baptized in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Mitchell, SD. During his high school years he loved to roller skate. They traveled to many places just to roller skate. After graduating from Mitchell High School, Dick enlisted in the United States Army, 1953.
Home sick for Cheryl, he came home to marry her. On December 26, 1953, Richard “Dick” Allen and Cheryl Haecker were united in marriage, Mitchell, South Dakota. They moved to Ft. Benning, Georgia where Dick continued his training with the United States Army as the Head Mail Clerk. Following his Honorable Discharge in 1955, they enrolled at Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell. Dick earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Economics.
In 1959, Dick took a position with Spurgeon’s Department store moving the family to Boone, Iowa. In 1960, he transferred to Ottumwa, IA, 1962, transferred to Owatonna, Minnesota and later to Le Mars in 1968, retiring March 31, 1993 after working for Spurgeon’s for 34 years. While in Minnesota and during the move back to Iowa, Dick became a Mason and was involved in the Masonic Temple, and became an active Shriner.
Dick and Cheryl were active members of the B.P.O. Elks in Le Mars. Dick served as the Exalted Ruler in 1974-1975, and was honored in 1980, for his outstanding services to the Elks Lodge of Le Mars #428. During his business years, Dick was very active in Rotary and was a longtime proud member of the American Legion.
We all know one of Dick’s favorite hobbies was fishing. Dick and Cheryl together enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting and spending time with their friends. The last 25 years, Dick and Cheryl spent summers at their home in Whitlock, South Dakota. He truly was a Pro Fisherman.
He will be lovingly remembered by a son, Randy Allen of Watertown, SD; son, Greg Allen and his wife, Karen of Bemidji, MN; daughter, Rhonda Klemme and her husband, Robin of Merrill, IA, son, Wade Allen of Le Mars, IA; grandchildren, Josh (Tiffany) Allen and their children, Natalie, Carter and Grayson, Chad (Amber) Allen and their daughter, Olivia, Brett Allen, Drew Allen, Matthew (Tiffeny) Allen, Keith Allen and his son, Jameson, Corey Allen, Kayci Allen, Jacob (Samantha) Lehmann and their children, Talan and Grace, Ryan (friend Rachel Hargens) Lehmann, Trent (Virginia) Hanner, their children Riley Hanner, Raiden Hanner, Joe (Beth) Allen and their children, Dawson, Paige and Zoey, Jessica (Paul) Hammer and their children, Daisy, Makenzi, and Kelsey Allen and her daughter, Riley; sisters, Beverly James of Lubbock, TX, Nancy (Mike) Zelenski of Sacramento, CA; a brother, Garry (friend Mary) Allen of Chamberlain, SD; a sister-in-law, Nola (Ron) Freyer of Sequim, WA. Special friend and fishing buddy, Jim Powell of Sioux Falls, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Cheryl on April 13, 2015; brothers, Bruce Allen Jr., Daryl Allen and Donald Allen; a brother-in-law, Denny James and a brother-in-law, Fred Haecker
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