Ушел из жизни 84-летний Уильям Аллен, прослуживший 27 лет в сфере образования

William Russell Allen William (Bill) Russell Allen of Duluth, MN passed away peacefully on August 13th at the age of 84. Bill was born on May 9th, 1942 to Russell and Agnes Allen in St. Paul, MN. Bill graduated from No. St. Paul High School in 1960. Bill always loved living by water, including his family cabin on Sauk Lake, his home on Birch Lake in White Bear Lake, his winter home on a little pond in Mission, TX and finally a cabin/home on the North Shore of Lake Superior, just outside Duluth, MN. ADVERTISEMENT Bill enjoyed a full and rewarding career in education. He graduated from Winona State University in 1964 and again for his Master’s Degree in 1973. Bill received his PhD in Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He valued his years of teaching, especially 5th grade. Bill had a 27 year career as an education consultant at the State Department of Education specializing in the area of assessment. Throughout his life, when he would see something that piqued his interest he’d imagine creative and fun ways he could teach it to the younger generation. At heart, he was always a teacher. Bill and his loving partner and wife, Barbara Burke, had an active lifestyle. Bill loved to play golf with friends in the Cities and Duluth as well as at their home in Mission, Texas. For almost 20 years he played golf close to 300 days a year. For a time, Bill played pickleball with some wonderful people in Duluth. Bill had an “Irish” sense of humor and a real love for his very Irish family including his children: son James (Suzanne) Allen, daughter Cynthia (Greg) Giddings and step-son Mark Hanna; Grandchildren: Jeff (Sarah) Allen, Lauren (Chris) Winter; Jennifer (Jesse) Melby, Andrew Giddings and step-granddaughters, Emily Hanna and Sydney Hanna; and Great Grandchildren: Ava, Finn and Luca Melby and Talia Winter: along with nieces, nephews and all his Irish cousins. Bill’s other passion was cars. He loved vintage American cars and classic European cars, especially his MGA, 40 Ford Coupe and his1952 MGTD. For almost 20 years, he and Barbara traveled in their 1952 MGTD to special events across the US with the MN MG-T Register. Bill and Barbara loved to travel and take road trips across the US. They also traveled together to Ireland, England, Canada, Mexico, England, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. They made their way to Albuquergue, New Mexico for the 50th International Hot Air Balloon Festival and took to the skies themselves. Their homes and garages in White Bear Lake and on Lake Superior were filled with memorabilia from those special times. Bill also loved horses, especially his childhood horse, Trigger. He admittedly acknowledged that he always wanted to be a cowboy. When Bill turned 50 he chose a week-long horseback riding adventure in the Canadian Rockies for his milestone trip. Reflecting upon his life Bill often said, “It’s been a grand life. Thank you to all of my friends, family, and co-workers for being part of my life and for giving me so much.” Bill was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Agnes Allen, of St. Paul, and his sister Darlene (Mark) Mattson of Stillwater. Bill is survived by his sister Doris (Mike) Bjostad of No. St. Paul, MN and his many wonderful “IRISH” cousins. ADVERTISEMENT Celebration of Life Events are planned for both Duluth and the Twin Cities. Duluth: Thursday September 17th, at Pier B Resort, Pilot Room, from 4:00 - 6:00.pm. There will be a short memorial at 5:00 pm. Maplewood: Sunday September 20th, at Keller Golf Course, Fireside Room, from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm with a short memorial at Noon. In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Bill’s name, will be collected at the Celebration of Life Events or checks may be mailed directly to: The Alzheimers Society of MN and; ND 12701 Whitewater Dr., Ste. 290 Minnetonka, MN 55343 Phone: 952/830-0512 Web: [email protected]