Obituary of Thomas Allen

Thomas F. Allen Age 65, of Minooka, passed away peacefully Monday, January 11, 2016 at Edward Hospital, Naperville, surrounded by his loving family. Born June 28, 1950 in Joliet to Ambrose L. and Mary Ann (nee DeNardo) Allen, he married Victoria L. Daulton on December 3, 1993 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Minooka. Dr. Allen was a 1968 graduate of Joliet Township High School, Marquette University (1973), Sangamon State University (1974), and Iowa State University where he received his Doctoral degree in Educational Administration in 1986. He dedicated his life to education, serving as a teacher, counselor, principal and school superintendent in the states of Iowa and Illinois, retiring as Superintendent of the Minooka Community Consolidated School District #201. Dr. Allen was active in many professional organizations including the American Association of School Administrators, Illinois and Iowa Association of School administrators, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Center for the Application of Type, in addition to serving on many local, state and national committees and delegate assemblies. He authored numerous articles and papers including the cover feature article for School Administrator Magazine in October, 1989. His special interests included human resource development and technology development, and his educational philosophies were greatly influenced by J. Krishnamurti, Alan Watts, Carl Jung, Paul Tillich, and Alfred North Whitehead. In 1993, Dr. Allen was the recipient of a kidney and pancreas transplant and became an active supporter of organ donation and a member of the Organ Transplant Support Group. Surviving are his loving and devoted wife, Victoria L. Allen; stepchildren, Shannon (Joe) Doti and Nathan Pucel; grandchildren, Gavin and Bradley; one sister, Kathleen Bleich of Mundelein, IL; and two brothers, Larry J. (Chris) Allen of Alpharetta, GA, and Bruce A. (Nancy) Allen of Colorado Springs, CO. He was preceded by his parents, one infant sibling, and a brother-in-law, Ray Bleich. A Memorial Visitation for Thomas Allen will be held Sunday, January 17, 2016 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Roads, Joliet. A Memorial Service will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. Interment in Woodlawn Memorial Park will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network would be appreciated. For information (815) 741-5500.