Slim Allen

W.J. “Slim” Allen, age 90, died September 2, 2017 at his winter home in Alamo, Texas. A Celebration of Slim’s Life will be held on September 15, 2017 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines at 12 p.m. followed by a social time with family and friends. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens.

Slim was born March 17, 1927 in Lovilia, Iowa to Pearl Edward Allen and Hannah Moses Allen. On May 21, 1949, Slim married Phyllis Berry in Des Moines, Iowa. They had one child, Janis. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage, making their home in Des Moines and West Des Moines. Slim grew up in Monroe County, Iowa and attended Lovilia High School. He was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for 35 years, retiring in 1986. He was an avid Horseshoe Pitcher winning many tournaments around Iowa and especially at the Iowa State Fair, where he also served as a groundskeeper at the horseshoe courts during the fair. He was captain of the “A” Team that pitched in a league at Birdland Park. He was a 30 year member of the Iowa Hawkeye Horseshoe Pitchers Association. He enjoyed playing in a pool league. He played guitar and sang in jam sessions, writing several songs. He recorded many cassette tapes and CD’s that he gave to family and friends. He presented programs for senior organizations, singing and playing his guitar and including jokes. He and Phyllis enjoyed writing songs about family and friends. Slim was an avid St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan. Square dancing was an activity they enjoyed for many years. Slim also called square dances. Slim was supportive of Phyllis’s active participation in Toastmasters and was a member himself for 10 years.

Surviving are his wife, Phyllis; daughter, Janis Jones and four grandsons, Michael Ewald (Melissa), sons, Miguel and Dylan and daughter, Miranda; Christopher Ewald (Delena) and son Jeremiah; Jeffrey Ewald (Karah) and sons, Zachary and Alexander and daughter, Zoey; Brian Ewald (Hannah), son, Thaddeus and daughter, Lilith. Preceding him in death were his parents; two sisters; and brothers in law, Gerhart Aswegan, Gerald “Bud” Berry and Wayne Cook.

Slim and Phyllis enjoyed wintering in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas for 23 years where Slim kept busy shooting pool, pitching horseshoes, playing cards, and singing and playing his guitar in jam sessions. His friends will remember him as always having a joke to tell.

Memorials may be made to Valley Church in West Des Moines or John Stoddard Cancer Center.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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