Donald Carl Allen

Donald Carl Allen, age 81 of Arbor Vitae, passed away on Thursday, July 9, at Marshfield Medical Center in Minocqua. Don was born on Aug. 6, 1944, in Arbor Vitae, the son of Claude and Clara (nee Gehrke) Allen. He claims that Dr. Kate had to come on snowshoes to deliver him at home.

Donald graduated from Lakeland Union High School and then proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He worked on the B52 Bombers and KC 135’s. 

Don married Marlene Tanner on February 20, 1965. They shared 61 years together.

Don worked as a lineman and installer for GTE for 41 years. Through his career he saw the upgrades from party lines (with lead cables) to single lines (with fiber optic cable). Prior to that he worked for Pukall Lumber Company and many other jobs starting at the young age of 11 years old. 

He found great joy in fishing, hunting, and handcrafting toys. Above all, he cherished spending time with his family — dancing, cooking together, sharing his knowledge, and teaching them how to create, build, and repair things. His patience, generosity, and love will live on through the memories and skills he passed on to those he loved.

Don is survived by his wife Marlene and children David (Cindy) Allen, Brenda (Steve) Smeaton, Donna Allen, and Angela (Jeff) Conover and by his grandchildren Andrew Smeaton, Alex Smeaton, Nicole Harris, Heather Ward, Amber Conover, Jessie Conover, Johnathan Conover, James Conover, Jaxon Conover and Joseph Conover and by great grandchild Siegfried Conover. Further survived by his siblings Robert Allen, Ruth Peterson, Rodger Allen, and Jim Allen and by many other relatives and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Clara Allen and by his brothers Tom Allen and Len Allen and his sister Diane VonArx.

A Memorial Gathering for Don will take place on Saturday, July 25, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Nimsgern Funeral Home Chapel in Woodruff, with a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. followed by military honors. With a reception to be held afterwards at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at Forest Garden Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com. Nimsgern Funeral & Cremation Services is serving the family.