Allen Clendenin, of Rockwood
Allen Carter Clendenin, 77, of Rockwood, Illinois, passed away surrounded by his family at 9:10 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born to the late Robert Morgan and Mabel Mary (nee Brown) Clendenin on February 16, 1940 in Rockwood.
He married Melba Jean Bauersachs on April 12, 1963 in Cutler. She survives.
Allen was the seventh of nine siblings and had an interesting birth in that he was born prematurely and fit in a shoebox; they kept him in the shoebox and in the oven with the door open to keep him warm until the doctor arrived.
After graduating from Chester High School, Allen attended McKendree College for a year, where he played basketball and pitched on the baseball team before leaving to pursue his passion of pitching baseball.
He spent time pitching on a farm team for the Philadelphia Phillies. Later, he attended Southern Illinois University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Arts Education.
Allen taught Industrial Arts at Jerseyville High School in Jerseyville and Chester High School. After teaching, Allen farmed for 43 years from 1973 – 2016.
Allen was the longest-elected member to the Chester Community Unit School District Board of Education. He faithfully served on the school board for 20 years and was president for eight of those years.
Allen also served on the Ebenezer Cemetery Board.
He was an avid mushroom hunter and knew where all the dead elm trees were.
Allen attended the First Baptist Church of Chester, where he was ordained a deacon and served the church in that capacity over the years.
Survivors include his wife, Melba Jean Clendenin of Rockwood; five children – Troy Allen (Connie) Clendenin, Kevin (Becky) Carter, Roger Dale (Eleanor) Clendenin, Vena Lynn (Ryan) Hallahan and April Jean (Travis) Jungewaelter.
Troy, Kevin and Roger reside in Rockwood. Vena Lynn resides in La Mesa, Calif., while April Jean resides in Mascoutah.
Allen is also survived by 15 grandchildren - Jordan Elizabeth, Joel Allen and Rachel Lynn Clendenin, Justin Carter, Daniel Robert and Maggie Elizabeth Clendenin, Calvin Dale and Peyton Shea Clendenin, Carter James, Jada Lynn, Grace Jean and Rylee Joy Hallahan, Donovan Mark, Jonah Allen and Avery Jean Jungewaelter
Additional survivors include three siblings – Mary Ann Bunselmeyer, Sue Klindworth and Bernice Cowan; two sisters-in-law – Mildred Gregory, Donna Clendenin and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Allen was preceded in death by parents, four brothers – Roger, Ted, Jimmy and Leonard; one sister, Katherine McClurken, and two brothers-in-law – Harold Bunselmeyer and Stanley Cowan.
Funeral service will be held Monday, July 17, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Chester with The Rev. John Little officiating.
Interment will be in Ebenezer Cemetery in Rockwood. Visitation is scheduled for Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home in Chester and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church.
Memorials can be made to Baptist Children's Home in Carmi, Illinois and Ebenezer Cemetery.
To view this obituary and sign the register book visit www.pmfh.net