Richard "Dick" Lawrence Allen

Richard “Dick” Lawrence Allen, the son of Thomas Arthur and Ella (Thompson) Allen was born January 5, 1933 in Lake City, IA. His childhood years were spent in the Storm Lake, IA area, where he attended school and graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1951, and was known as “Spook”. Dick then enrolled at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake where he majored in ping pong his freshman year.

Dick was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953 and served until his Honorable Discharge in 1955. He then graduated from the University of South Dakota with a masters in history. He started teaching in Battle Creek, IA where he also coached football and girls basketball. Dick then moved to Spencer, IA where he taught 8th grade U.S. History for 33 years until his retirement.

Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing, learning about the Constitution, Mock Trials, Parker’s Museum, singing in the church choir and especially spending time with family. He drove the disability golf carts at the fair and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Spencer.

Dick passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at his home in Spencer at the age of 93. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Diane, 2 sons-in-law, Gary Hansen and Steve McGinley, 3 brothers, Ronald, Herbert, and Harry, 3 sisters, Evelyn, Vivian, and Dorothy, several nieces and nephews;

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Diane of Spencer, IA; 2 children, Robert (Debra) Allen of Waterloo, IA and Michelle McGinley of Clayton, ID; 4 grandchildren, Sarah, Ryan, Kaitlyn, and Courtney; 2 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews; other relatives; and many friends.