Groff Funeral Homes
1607 East Perkins Avenue
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-626-3632
Fax: 419-626-2445
Email: info@grofffuneralhomes.com
Website: http://www.grofffuneralhomes.com
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With profound sadness, we mark the passing of Daniel L. Allen, our father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, partner, and friend. He was a kind, curious, and generous man.
Dan was preceded in death by his father, Delbert Allen, mother, Elizabeth Goodwin, brother, Delbert (Buddy) Allen, stepfather, Lloyd (Bud) Goodwin, first wife, Burita Allen, wife Wendy Allen, stepbrother Theodore Goodwin, and niece and goddaughter, Kelly Goodwin Norvel.
Dan is survived by his children Damon Allen, Rhea Anderson (John), Danielle Rose Moulton (Justin), stepson Scott Melching (Jessica), grandchildren Alexiss, Brandon, Bryce, Annabelle, Townsend, Paige and great-grandchild, Connor. He is also survived by siblings Mary Beth Zachary (Bonna), Rory Allen (Lynn), and stepbrothers Daniel Goodwin (Susan), Scott Goodwin (Katherine), and partner Sue Cross, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Dan attended Sts. Peter and Paul school and graduated from Sandusky High School in 1963 after which he attended Bowling Green State University. He interrupted his university education to serve multiple tours in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army. He returned to Bowling Green State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts.
Dan was imbued with the values reminiscent of the "greatest generation" when service was a given. Following the examples of his parents and their families, he developed a finely tuned sense of willing responsibility that manifested in his loving and loyal dedication to his family, friends, work, and his country. Dan had an enormous capacity for kindness and acceptance. He loved easily, consistently, and unequivocally. He also had a great sense of humor, laughed readily, and enjoyed a quick wit. Those traits made him a joy. His laugh was infectious. He loved his family - his children and grandchildren, especially.
Dan considered it a privilege to go to work. In his youth, as many in our area have, he worked for several years at Cedar Point on the maintenance staff and later for Coffelt's taffy. He worked two summers at Holkenberg Nursery which fed his knowledge of and love of nature. In his adult life, he worked for the Ford Motor Company. He then joined the USPS. After an over 30-year career, Dan retired from the Postal Service, where he made life-long friends of colleagues and those he served.
His interests were eclectic. He was curious, wanting to know more about everything. Space, flight, paintings, local history, how buildings were put together, and how repairs were done, among many other interests. He was an artist: he worked in enamels where his proclivity for precision and beauty paid handsomely. His pieces are treasured by those who have them. He loved watching old movies. One clue that Dan had stopped by the family home was finding the TV tuned to one of the classic movie channels.
Dan loved to travel. He wanted to know about anything out there! What was the fun way to go at that next crossroad? Where did that trail lead? He backpacked in Europe. While in Vietnam he used his leaves to travel around Asia and Australia. He loved our national parks, vacationing with his family and friends. Even in Sandusky, we would send Dan to the store and see him three hours later after he traveled down streets he hadn't been on before or go past another beautiful old Sandusky home.
One of his life-long interests was golf. He began this journey when his dad took him to Mills Creek to teach basic skills and the etiquette of the game. He began caddying at Mills Creek and moved to Plum Brook as a caddy, all the while becoming more proficient at the sport. He played league golf most of his life and loved having fun games with family and friends as often as possible. One of his greatest joys with golf came in 2021 when he listened to the bagpiper put the course to sleep after rounds at Pebble Beach.
Tradition was important to Dan, especially when it came to the family and home. Every year he helped his Mom mix Christmas cookies, particularly the cookie that used 10 cups of flour. One of his favorite treats was Noodles and Peaches, a particular and long-standing family favorite about which he would proselytize. Dan also had a sentimental streak. He remembered every Christmas ornament, including those from his childhood. He treasured the traces of family: photos, letters, memories.
We miss Dan very much and know that he will live on in our hearts and memories.
A visitation will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory, 1607 E Perkins Ave. Sandusky, OH 44870. Memory sharing by family and friends will take place at 12:00 pm in the funeral home. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:30 pm at Battery Park in Sandusky for those who knew and cared for Dan.
Those wishing to contribute to Dan's memory may do so to Back To The Wild, P.O. Box 423, Castalia, OH 44824 or to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, PO Box 418320, Boston, MA 02241-8320 and please write "NMNH" in the memo line.
Condolences may be shared online at www.grofffuneralhomes.com.
