Robert Eugene Allen, age 88, of Harlingen, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home, Friday, June 21, 2024.
Robert “Bob” Eugene Allen was born on May 4th, 1936 in Claremont, MN. the son of Mike and Isabel Allen. He was one of 8 children. He was born prematurely and small enough to fit in a shoebox where his mother would warm him in the sun.
Bob attended elementary and junior high school in Owatonna, MN. and graduated from Jefferson High School in Jefferson, IA. (He graduated from high school when the chairs got too small). He briefly attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA.
In 1957 he married Sherry Fett until her passing in 1985, together they were blessed with two children Mark and Paul. Later that year Bob married Maxine Lewis, they were married 31 years until her death in 2016.
Bob played a variety of sports in high school, studied briefly to be a minister at Buena Vista College. He sold insurance, was a shoe salesman, an electrical lineman, a telephone lineman and manager, and a cheese technician (he enjoyed cutting the cheese). He also worked for his father in their family run carpet business and owned his own telephone service company. Out of all of his occupations, he enjoyed working in the telephone industry the most as a manager.
Bob was very active in the community in his younger years. He was a National Guardsman, a Jaycee, ran a movie theatre, played the town Santa Claus, taught Sunday school classes, belonged to the Masonic Lodge, as well as a church pulpit committee.
He traversed much of Iowa before landing in Clinton, MO and ultimately the southern tip of Texas. Quick with a quip or the last possible thing that should be said, he was surrounded by laughter and the occasional ‘oh, Bob!’ He loved his family and his friends. He would give you the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet. There was nobody funnier, nobody quicker, and nobody who made a faster friend. He knew no strangers.
He will be thought of often and fondly. Wherever a CC and 7 is toasted, Easy Cheese is spread or there’s unconditional love, he’ll be there.
Survivors include his 2 sons, Mark Allen of Ruston, LA, and Paul Allen (Cori) of Johnstown, CO., 4 step children, David Sperry (Rhonda) of Clinton, MO, Zoe Ann Butt (Mike) of Salisbury, MO, Natalie Sperry (Joe Goth) of Clinton, MO, and Sarah Peterman of Bedford, IA., 12 grandchildren; Nick Allen (Sara), Elizabeth Allen (Mike), Alivia Stickler (Carson), Sydni Dererra (Elijah), Luke Allen (Kailin), Mike Sperry (Jenn), Angela Verslues (Brad), Rebecca Britt (Ryan), Lena Schlüter, Christopher Brown (Ashley), Tanya Strong (Josh), Matt Peterman (Kylie), 26 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter.
Funeral services were held July 1, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Pastor Joe Hall officiating. Special music included “Go Rest High, I Can Only Imagine and Wichita Lineman.” The casket bearers were Nick Allen, Brian Lewis, Ryan Britt, Luke Allen, Mike Sperry and Christopher Brown. Interment was in Deepwater Cemetery, Deepwater, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
