Dale Allen

Dale E. Allen, 77, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at his home in Atlantic.

Dale Edward Allen was born on December 10, 1930, in Malvern, Iowa, the son of Dale and Alta (Thiessen) Allen. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church.

He lived in Malvern, Iowa, until 1935 when his family moved to Avoca, Iowa. Dale graduated from Avoca High School in 1948. He enlisted in the United States Army on February 12, 1951, and served during the Korean War. On February 11, 1953, he was honorably discharged from active duty but stayed in the reserves for 5 years after that.

He attended Iowa State University from 1953-1956 and then received his Masters Degree from Northwest Missouri State.

On August 12, 1956, he married Bonnie Lou Bates at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa.

He was a current member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic.

Dale worked in Pomeroy, Iowa, in the field of education and coaching from 1956-1959. He continued teaching and coaching for the Atlantic School system from 1959 to 1989. Dale started the girl's basketball program in Atlantic as well as coaching boy's basketball and golf. From 1989 to 1998 he owned and operated the family business, Iowa Golf. Following retirement in 1998, he continued the junior golf program and substitute teaching.

His number one passion was golf, but he also enjoyed birds, flowers and puzzles. Dale loved animals and spent many hours watching Animal Planet. He looked forward to spending time with his friends at coffee.

Dale is survived by his wife, Bonnie Allen of Atlantic, Iowa; his sons, Mick Allen and his wife, Jennifer of Atlantic, Iowa, and Jeff Allen and his wife, Diane of Mesa, Arizona; his daughter, Amy Chenoweth and her husband, Ken of Urbandale, Iowa; his grandchildren, Megan, Michelle and Nathan Allen, Jacob Allen, and Michael and Matthew LaMotte; his step-grandchildren, James Howard, Cara Rivas and Kevin Chenoweth; his sisters, Dorothy Eggerss of Avoca, Iowa, and Patricia Rodenburg and her husband, Robert of Omaha, Nebraska; his brother, Charles Allen and his wife, Laura Ann of Avoca, Iowa; and ten nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Alta Allen; his father and mother-in-law, Bert and Nellie Bates; his niece, Patty Kay Eggerss; and his son-in-law, Paul LaMotte.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2008, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic with the Reverend Dennis Meyer officiating.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery with military honors by the Atlantic Color Guard.

Visitation will be from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, June 1, 2008, with the family present to greet friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

In lieu of flowers, per Dale's wishes, memorials may be directed to the family and a scholarship in Dale's name will be set up at a later date.