Alice Mary (Hansen) Allen, age 90, formerly of Greenville Michigan, died Sunday May 18th 2014, at the Lake View Heights Alzheimer/Dementia community in the North Central Health Care facility, Wausau, Wisconsin. Prior to moving to Lake View Heights in October 2013 Alice and husband Bob lived three plus years at an assisted living complex, also in Wausau. During her time in Wausau her heart and mind remained in Greenville.
Alice was born June 11, 1923 near Sidney Michigan. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1941. Alice was the oldest of the five Hansen girls of Sidney Road. Some of the happiest times throughout her life were when she could spend time with one or more of her sisters. For much of the 1940s she worked at the First State Bank of Greenville. Alice lived on the family farm near Sidney until her marriage and then in Greenville until moving to Wausau in 2010.
On August 24th, 1946 Alice married Robert Ora Allen in North Sidney Lutheran Church. They enjoyed traveling (Alice more than Bob), family get-togethers, playing cards with friends and neighbors and delivering Meals on Wheels. She was always proud of the " nice house Bob built with his own hands" in which they lived for nearly fifty years.
Alice was a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Greenville MI, remaining an active member until that church closed and merged with St. Paul Lutheran Church. Alice was proud of her Danish Heritage, all four of her grandparents emigrated from Denmark. She worked for years in the Trinity food booth turning aebleskivers dressed in her old-time Danish costume. Alice made many Danish pastries to sell at that booth as well as to share with family and friends. She was once featured in a Grand Rapids Press article where she talked about her pastries and provided the recipe and instructions on how to make them.
Survivors include one son, Dewey (Cheryl) Allen, Wausau WI; one daughter Mary (Keith) Paine, Olathe, KS; granddaughters Alison (Ben) Blankenship, Little Elm TX and Monica (Paul Wagner) Allen, Eagan, MN and great-grandchildren Samuel Sam and Maggie Blankenship and Lily and Liam Wagner. Also surviving are three sisters Nate Lou (Lee) Hansen, Trufant, MI, Grace (Robert) Hemstreet, San Diego CA, Laura Roberts, Raymore, MO. She is also survived by one brother-in-law Leroy (Mary) Allen, Grand Rapids, MI; four sisters-in-law, Marjorie (Elmer) Minthorn, Fife Lake, MI, Ruth (Earl) Neinas, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Betty Allen, Boyne City, MI and Ann Allen, Greenville, MI; and many cousins, nieces and nephews living throughout the country.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband Robert Ora Bob Allen (who died 33 days before Alice on April 14th, 2014); her parents Dewey and Cora Hansen; one sister, Marilyn (Max) Christensen; brothers-in-law Carl (Donna) Allen, Harold (Wilma) Allen and James Allen; and sister-in-law Jane Allen.
A memorial service to celebrate Alices life will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Greenville, on Friday July 11th at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be at the church starting at 9:30 AM prior to the service. If anyone so desires, memorial contributions can be made in memory of Alice to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 9844 SW Greenville Rd, Greenville, MI 48838.
