John D. Allen, 87, of Eau Claire, died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at Dove Healthcare in Eau Claire. \r\nHe was born in Eau Claire on August 30, 1921, the son of James and Vera (Gunderzik) Allen. He graduated from St. Patrick's High School in 1939. He went on to attend UW Madison. \r\nFollowing the attack on Pearl Harbor, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy on April 28, 1942, and was sent to officers training in Notre Dame Indiana. He served as skipper of LCT666, part of the invasion force that landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. He spent six months in Europe after D-Day before returning home. He served until the end of the war and was honorably discharged on August 20, 1947, in Great Lakes, IL.\r\nUpon returning home, John finished college at UWEC and became a teacher, baseball, and basketball coach for Elk Mound High School. \r\nOn May 22, 1948, John married Claudia H. Raymond at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Eau Claire, where he was a lifelong member. They had five children together. Claudia passed away on February 26, 1996. He married Emma A. Rowe on December 15, 2001, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. \r\nJohn worked for over 30 years at Raymond Distributing Company in Chippewa Falls prior to his retirement in the 1980's. He loved sports, and played many seasons in the Eau Claire City Softball Leagues. He also enjoyed playing golf. John was an avid Milwaukee Braves, then the Brewers and Green Bay Packers fan. He almost never missed listening to or watching a game. He had the opportunity to attend the 1967 NFL Championship game - The Ice Bowl. \r\nJohn was an active volunteer in his Parish and most notably with Hmong assistance and helping them to learn the English language.\r\nHe is survived by his wife, Emma of Wausau, WI; a son, Terry (Mary) Allen of Eau Claire; three daughters, Barbara (Rocco) Allen-Sisto of New York City, NY, Nancy (Patrick) Roering of Glenwood, MN, and Susan (Bob) Bach of Brown Deer, WI; ten grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.\r\nJohn was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Claudia; a son, Timothy; a brother, Jim; and three sisters, Mary, Grace, and Betty.Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2009, at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Eau Claire with Father William A. Dhein celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one half-hour prior to Mass Friday at church. A public prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.\r\n \r\n

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