Robert Eugene Allen, age 88, of Harlingen, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home, Friday, June 21st, 2024. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 1, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri with visitation from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service. Burial to follow in Deepwater Cemetery, Deepwater, Missouri. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Deepwater Cemetery or Toys for Tots and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Robert "Bob" Eugene Allen was born on May 4th, 1936 in Claremont, MN. the son of Mike and Isabel Allen. He was one of 8 children. He was born prematurely and small enough to fit in a shoebox where his mother would warm him in the sun.

Bob attended elementary and junior high school in Owatonna, MN. and graduating from Jefferson High School in Jefferson, IA. (He graduated from high school when the chairs got too small). He briefly attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA.
In 1957 he married Sherry Fett until her passing in 1985, together they were blessed with two children Mark and Paul. Later that year Bob married Maxine Lewis, they were married 31 years until her death in 2016.

Bob played a variety of sports in high school, studied briefly to be a minister at Buena Vista College. He sold insurance, was a shoe salesman, an electrical lineman, a telephone lineman and manager, and a cheese technician (he enjoyed cutting the cheese). He also worked for his father in their family run carpet business and owned his own telephone service company. Out of all of his occupations, he enjoyed working in the telephone industry the most as a manager.

Bob was very active in the community in his younger years. He was a National Guardsman, a Jaycee, ran a movie theatre, played the town Santa Claus, taught Sunday school classes, belonged to the Masonic Lodge, as well as a church pulpit committee.

He traversed much of Iowa before landing in Clinton, MO and ultimately the southern tip of Texas. Quick with a quip or the last possible thing that should be said, he was surrounded by laughter and the occasional 'oh, Bob!' He loved his family and his friends. He would give you the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet. There was nobody funnier, nobody quicker, and nobody who made a faster friend. He knew no strangers.

He will be thought of often and fondly. Wherever a CC and 7 is toasted, Easy Cheese is spread or there's unconditional love, he'll be there.

Survivors include his 2 sons, Mark Allen of Ruston, LA, and Paul Allen (Cori) of Johnstown, CO., 4 step children, David Sperry (Rhonda) of Clinton, MO, Zoe Ann Butt (Mike) of Salisbury, MO, Natalie Sperry (Joe Goth) of Clinton, MO, and Sarah Peterman of Bedford, IA., 12 grandchildren; Nick Allen (Sara), Elizabeth Allen (Mike), Alivia Stickler (Carson), Sydni Dererra (Elijah), Luke Allen (Kailin), Mike Sperry (Jenn), Angela Verslues (Brad), Rebecca Britt (Ryan), Lena Schlüter, Christopher Brown (Ashley), Tanya Strong (Josh), Matt Peterman (Kylie), 26 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri and pending at this time.