grave import

Obituary

Thomas James Allen, 84, of Burlington, died at 9:10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at Great River Medical Center-Klein Center in Burlington. Born May 5, 1927, in Burlington, he was the son of Herbert W. and Rose C. Donahue Allen. On Oct. 9, 1955, he married Opal Eilene McEldowney in Cantril. Mr. Allen was owner/operator with his twin brother, Tim, of Allen Brothers Trucking. He worked for IRC-TRW, first as a tool and die maker, and retired as an engineer. He started Allen Air, retired and operated his own gunsmithing business. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1947. He served in the Navy in Guam during World War II. He was a 50-year member of West Hill United Methodist Church. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 10102 and American Legion 52, and active in Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. He was a ham radio operator, WAQLUD, contacting people in more than 100 countries. He was raised a master mason in Des Moines Lodge 1, Burlington in 1953, where he served as worshipful master in 1997 and 2003. He was a past master of Joppa Lodge 136 in Montrose and life member of Walpole Tuscan Lodge 630 in Boughton, Ill. He became a member of York Rite in Burlington, Chapter 1 in 1993, where he served as high priest in 1995; Zerubbabel Council 22, where he served as illustrious master in 1996, and received the Ish Sodi award in 2000; and St. Omer Commandery 15, where he served as commander from 1996 to 1998. He served as grand commander of Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Iowa in 2003, and was awarded KCT from Grand Encampment KT of the USA. He was a member of Charles Clyde Hunt Priory 42 of the Knights of York Cross of Honor, Kilpeck Council 64 of Knight Masons, T.S. Parvin Council 290 and a charter member of Hiram C. Bennett Council 441-Allied Masonic Degrees; The Royal Order of Scotland; Iowa Research Lodge 2-Columbia Preceptory VIII, and a charter member of Burlington Preceptory XII, Yeomen of York; St. Bartholomew Conclave Red Cross of Constantine; Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests; and 32nd degree Scottish Rite, Davenport Valley A and ASR, SJ. He enjoyed learning new technology, gunsmithing, woodworking, genealogy, photography, metal detecting and serving family, friends and community. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Leslee Coons of Bartlett, Ill., Cynthia Allen of Canberra, Australia, Jacque Litton of Troy, Mich., and Carolyn "Carrie" Russell of Lenexa, Kan.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and one sister. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hass-Thielen Funeral Home in Burlington, where family will receive friends from 5:30 to 8 p.m. following the 5:30 p.m. public Masonic memorial service. The funeral for Mr. Allen will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at West Hill Unied Methodist Church, with the Rev. Morris Hurd officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. A time of food and fellowship will be at the Masonic Temple, 401 N. Fifth St., following burial. Memorials have been established for West Hill United Methodist Church, Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard and Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.