Steven Lee Allen

Steven Lee Allen, 70, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at Rowley Masonic Community in Perry, Iowa with his wife and daughter by his side, holding his hands.

Steve was born on September 28, 1949, in Richland, Iowa to Robert and Monna Allen. He was the youngest of two and he loved his big brother Bill. The two Allen boys always kept their parents on their toes with all of their crazy antics. Steve graduated from Pekin High School in 1967 and continued his education at Truman State University where he graduated with a BS in 1971.

Steve was a brilliant man and poured his heart into his work. Steve’s career included working as a bank examiner with the Iowa Department of Banking until he became a Commercial Loan Officer at Capital City Bank, which is where he met his other half, Tanna. Steve and Tanna were married on April 23, 1983, and they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1984, where Steve continued his career in banking. They moved back to Des Moines in 1990 where he started his next, and favorite, chapter of his career working alongside Ken and Sally Dechant and Jim Middendorf at Dechant-Middendorf Insurance. Steve worked at, what is now, Middendorf Insurance for 22 years. Steve would have worked as long as he could have, but made the difficult decision to retire in June of 2012 once he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s stole so much from Steve and his family and friends, but he will never be remembered for those days. He brought immeasurable amounts of happiness, love, and laughter to his friends and family and that is the only way he will be honored and remembered.

While Steve loved his work, he embodied the saying of “Work Hard, Play Harder.” Steve was always the first to suggest a new adventurous idea knowing darn well all of the risks that were involved, whether that was climbing bridges or snorkeling in treacherous, unadvisable waters. Without a doubt, his friends have stories that his family has never heard, and they know he kept it that way for a reason, as what they do know nearly gave them heart attacks. Though he was a wild spirit, he was extremely gentle as well. Steve was an animal lover. His dream job was to be a zookeeper, though he knew he would never get anything done as he’d spend too much time playing with and loving the animals with his whole heart. He loved golf and his infamous Boys of Summer group were his companions through thick and thin.

He loved the outdoors and nature. Steve loved to travel and thoroughly enjoyed his time in the warmer climates, such as St. Thomas, St. Croix and Playa Del Carmen, where his family would travel with “The Other Allens” every year. Steve absolutely loved music. He didn’t know as many lyrics as he would have led you to believe, but would sing as though he did. Some of his favorites included Jimmy Buffett, and much to his wife’s dismay, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, and Tim McGraw.

The list of things Steve loved could truly go on forever, as his heart was so big and filled with so many unique things that made him who he was. However, there was nothing Steve loved more than his girls - and that’s how he’d always refer to them - “my girls.” Steve adored and admired his soulmate Tanna with his entire being. The pride he had for his daughter was palpable to all who knew him. Everything he did, he did for them.

Steve is survived the love of his life, his wife, Tanna, and his daughter, his pride and joy, Jordan.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Monna, and his brother Bill.

Due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, formal services will be held at a later date. The family asks if you would like to be kept on a list to receive an email about Steve’s Celebration of Life to contact his daughter Jordan via email at jballen712@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorials to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Iowa, or be made out to the family. The family would like to offer their gratitude to the staff at Rowley Masonic Community and St. Croix Hospice, who took care of Steve during his final days and cared for him as an individual, not just as a part of their job. The family has the utmost respect for his caregivers during his final days.

There is nothing Steve would have wanted more than to sign off with lyrics from one of his favorites. “Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.”

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