Ivan Allen

Ivan Leroy “Lee” Allen, age 75 years of Niles, Michigan died on Saturday morning, January 23, 2016 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

He was born on September 6, 1940 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Theo Richmond and Ollie Ruth (Meyers) Allen. He was graduated from Benton Harbor High School, and completed the program for ordination at the Aenon Bible College in Columbus, Ohio (now moved to Indianapolis, Indiana). He has pastored a home church for twenty years.

Lee’s passion was the ministry, but he also formerly owned and operated the Allen Maintenance Services, and was a union employee at the D. C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. He enjoyed fishing, usually in Lake Michigan, was an avid fan of many sports, and enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with his family and friends. He also enjoyed reading, especially studying the Bible.

On October 3, 1970 in Niles he married the former Wilma Lois (Samples) Evans with whom he celebrated last year the forty-fifth anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Wilma Allen and their daughter, Angela (& Brad) Williams of Niles; step-children Kim Yvonne Evans of Niles and Steven (& Monique) Evans of Lint, Belgium; grandchildren Emma Williams, Bradley Evan Williams, Rick (& Nicole) Evans, Sharon (& Kevin Nuhs) Van Dyck, Marcie Evans, and Alex Evans; great-grandchildren Dylan Evans, Nick Russo, Aleah Evans, and Zane and Chase Nuhs; and Lee’s siblings, Devonna (& Mitch) Mitchell of Canton, Michigan, Ioma Davis, Wesley (& Pat) Allen, Cathy Unsicker, and Joseph Allen, all of Niles, Patty (& Wayne) Cooper of Florida, and Rita Faye Allen of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral for Ivan Lee Allen will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with members of the home church sharing. Interment will be private on Wednesday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at the funeral home beginning at 5:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of Lee may be made to the donor’s choice.