Gerald E. Allen

Gerald Estle Allen (Gerry), of Conesville, Iowa, passed away on April 17, 2023 after a brief and sudden illness. He was fortunate to be surrounded by many loving family members during his illness and passing.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023 at the Snyder and Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Columbus Junction.  Burial with military rites will be held at the Conesville Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 23, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with masonic rites at 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army of Muscatine County in Gerry's name,  Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.  

Gerry was born in Conesville on July 16, 1933 to Margaret and Gerald M. Allen and was the first of five children, brothers Loren, Ted, Lee and his sister Mary. Gerry attended Brockway Primary School, Conesville School, and graduated from Columbus Jct. High School in 1951. Gerry went on to study at Iowa State College (now University) and graduated with a Bachelors of General Agriculture in 1954. Gerry then left for New Jersey to attend the United States Army’s Signal Corps Officers Basic Course and achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army. (When told by his superiors the telephone poles being installed had to be straight, Gerry let them know he was from Iowa, and fence posts installed in Iowa were straight!) Gerry was honorably discharged in 1958. After his time in the service, Gerry became a Veteran’s Farm Instructor in and around Waterloo, Iowa.

Fortunately for Gerry, he ran into a friend one night in Cedar Falls who set him up on a date with Dorothy Nielsen of Armstrong, Iowa. This resulted in a 64 year long and loving marriage. Gerry and Dorothy were married on June 14, 1959 and started their married life in Hudson, Iowa. They soon moved to the Conesville area to start his farming career and family. Gerry and Dorothy have three children, Debbie Cutler (Harley), Lori Allen (Ken Sheats) and Steve Allen (Tina). Gerry also has seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Gerry retired from farming in 1996 and spent his retirement years mowing grass in the summers and doing trail maintenance on the Arizona Trail (Tucson) in the winters.

His family will remember his love of steak, puns, Sunday night popcorn and ice cream, and our many camping trips out west.

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