Allan C. Appell, 94, passed on September 16, 2019 at his farm home near Calhoun, Missouri. Fond memories and condolences may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com. He was born in Sedalia, Missouri, July 12, 1925, to Carl F. Appell and Ruby Caldwell Appell.

Allan was a veteran of World War II and scheduled to be part of the landing party on Japan. In 1950, he rejoined the Navy at NAS Olathe and retired as Chief Petty Officer in 1963.

After the war, he worked a short time with K.C. Terminal Railroad, then joined Kansas City Life Insurance Company and spent some 40 years there in the computer field, overseeing four upgrades of software and Univac hardware from vacuum tubes to integrated circuits.

In 1963 he bought a 99-acre farm south of Calhoun, Missouri, moved there with his family in 1982, and during ensuing years expanded it to 354 acres of woods and pasture range. He was honored as Missouri's tree farmer of the year 2000. He actively supported wildlife and re-entry of quail on the property, and in 2009 converted the farm to a conservation easement.

In the early 1990s he coordinated transfer of additional land for horseback riding on the Katy Trail among landowners, the city of Calhoun and the Department of Natural Resources, and over the years continued volunteer work on the Trail. Other volunteerism included identifying and recording whales on Dessert Island, Maine, counting Monk seals on Wake Island in the Pacific and giving talks at Devil's Tower National Park in Wyoming. He contributed to many non-profit organizations, favorites being Clinton, Missouri's, Heartland Community Theater and South Dakota's Crazy Horse Memorial.

Surviving are his wife of 71 years, Joicie Rule Appell, professional actress, director, playwright and founder of Heartland Theatre; his brother Kenneth Appell (Jeane), Rocklin, California; three daughters: Pam (Mrs. Roger) High of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Cheryl Appell (Mrs. Ralph Stewart) of Boulder, Colorado, and Tricia (Mrs. Patrice) Marques of Charneca, Cascais, Portugal; four grandchildren: Jason Lee High, Elisabeth Stewart (Mrs. Matt) Hill, Allison Stewart and Meredith Stewart, and two great-granddaughters, Emerson Ann Hill and Eleanor Joy Hill.

Allan was a life-long Christian Scientist, most recently serving as Treasurer of the Sedalia Society. The funeral service is to be private with burial on the family farm.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.