Obituaries

March 23, 1945 — February 27, 2024

ROYAL CENTER - Dean E. Allen, 78, of Star City, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 27, at his vacation home at the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Butternut, Wis.

He was born March 23, 1945, the son of Ralph and Lena Allen, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara (Chambers) Allen.

Dean Allen

He is survived by his children Jim (Chandra Allen of Cloquet, MN, Janette (Chris) Moore of Wabash, and Anita (Nate) Caskey of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren Elizabeth (Moore) Wickware, Isaiah Wickware, Jordan Allen, Amelia Allen, Madeline Moore, Gage Allen, Ellis Allen, Preston Moore, Piper Caskey, Malin Caskey and Fletcher Caskey. He is also survived by his exchange student son Antonio Ruis (Patricia) Risueno and their children Luna and Antonio of Madrid, Spain. He is also survived by his brothers Tim (Cris) Allen, Tom (Becky) Allen and sister-in-law Shelia Allen, as well as numerous, loving nieces and nephews and their families.

He is preceded in death by his in-laws Harold and Dorothy Jane Chambers, and his brother Richard Allen.

Mr. Allen, a retired farmer, was a graduate of Star City High School and Purdue University where he earned a degree in agricultural engineering.  He also proudly served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Throughout his life he was involved in a multitude of organizations and activities resulting in lifelong friendships. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, serving as the co-founder of the AGR Ag Rep program and co-creator of the infamous AGR Barnyard Brawl at the Purdue University chapter.  He was also a longstanding member of the Odd Fellows of Winamac. He formerly served as a school board member at the Pioneer Regional School Corporation and as a member of the Pulaski-White Rural Telephone Company.  He also enjoyed participating in a trap shooting league in Wisconsin.

His life was rich with love and laughter, centered around his family and friends (and fishing). He found great joy in the simple pleasures of life, including fishing, delving into the pages of a good book, creating ‘farm-fixes,’ exploring new destinations, and most of all, spending quality time with his loved ones and watching his grandchildren grow. His memory will forever be treasured by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His love, wisdom, and stories will continue to resonate through the lives of his grandchildren. His warm smile, gentle demeanor, infectious laugh and zest for life will be deeply missed.

Two celebrations of life are planned in places Mr. Allen loved: the family farm in Indiana and his fishing grounds in Wisconsin. Family and friends are invited to celebrate him at the Allen Family Farm in Star City on Saturday, April 20 beginning at 12 noon. A memorial neighborhood “board meeting” will occur at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at The Midway near the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Butternut, Wis. 

Memorial donations may be made to Star City Volunteer Fire Department, Town of Mercer Volunteer Fire Department - Station 24, Pulaski Fest-A-Mill (Pulaski Christmas Lights) or the Mayo Clinic.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Rans Funeral Home & Crematory, Royal Center.