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Obituaries

John Charles Allen, fondly known as Junior, of Ann Arbor passed quietly among his beloved family at the University of Michigan Hospital in the early hours of March 4, 2017. He was born on August 16, 1934 to John Wesley Allen and Freda Schultz Allen. He met Jean Irene Groeb at a dance in the Pittsfield Union Grange in 1950 and they married on May 6, 1955. They were married almost 62 years and had five children.

He was a hard-working man, who served in the U.S. Naval Reserves. He was a welder and a self-taught engineer who fabricated parts and designed machines for shops and factories in the Ann Arbor area for decades, first as a business owner and later with Bennett Installation and Marsh Plating until his retirement in 1996. Even after his official retirement, John returned to Marsh Plating to work on special projects.

Born in Ypsilanti, John graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1952. Then he went to work as a welder for his father’s business, Ypsi-Ann Welding Company, where he stayed and eventually owned until selling the business and going to work at Marsh Plating in 1979.

He enjoyed being with his family more than anything. He spent time each summer with Jean and his three daughters and two sons fishing and relaxing at Muskallonge Lake in the Upper Peninsula. He raised his family in the Old West Side neighborhood of Ann Arbor where his neighbors and friends knew him as keen prankster who laughed easily and often, brightening anyone’s day with his humor.

He valued tradition in life and held a special fondness for children and animals. He enjoyed working in his garage on cars, tractors and lawn mowers. He created items from wood, metal and any other material available. He made hand mirrors, indestructible Christmas tree stands, squirrel-proof bird feeders and just about everything else. If something broke, he fixed it.
 
He is survived by his beloved wife, Jean, and their five children, Cindy (Andy) Dresner, Lori (David) Keck, Tracy (Kathy) Allen, Brian Allen (Clea Davis) and Kelly (Tony) Grubb; grandchildren Aaron (Johanna Horn) Dresner, Rose (Steve) Schulist, Jennifer Allen, Linsey Allen, Addison Grubb, Evelyn Grubb; great-grandchildren Oscar and Opal Dresner, and Eli Schulist. He is also survived by his sister Linda Dawson, sister-in-law Joanne Steiner, brother-in-law Robert Groeb and his wife Barb, and many nieces and nephews. And his dog and best friend, Lizzie.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 122 W Michigan Avenue, Saline, Michigan 48176 on Saturday, March 11 at 11 a.m.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humane Society of Huron Valley or The Yankee Air Museum.

 

Click here to view or sign John's online guestbook