Donald Heath Allen, 82, of Ludington, died Wednesday, June 5,
2019, at Medilodge of Ludington. He was born February 7, 1937, in
Denver, Colorado, the son of Donald and Genevieve (Whitaker) Allen
Sr.
Donald was a quiet man who liked solitude, especially out of
doors. As a young man he was a beekeeper, hunted, fished and
trapped. He was featured in the Field & Stream magazine for his
hunting. He was well known in the Ludington area for his fishing, and
led fishing expeditions to out-of-state guests on the Pere Marquette
River, as well as teaching fly fishing classes.
Donald loved electronics, and eventually invented machinery
that was patented and used by the Department of Interior, who invited
him to join a submarine expedition in Lake Superior using his
machinery.
Donald retired in 1993 from the Department of Interior, Fish and
Wildlife Service, Sea Lamprey Control station in Ludington as a
Biology Technician. Following his retirement he volunteered and was
eventually hired by the Michigan State University Extension Agency
surveying local fruit orchards and identifying numbers of different
destructive insect species affecting the orchards.
Donald was an active and longtime member of St. Simon
Catholic Church. He was also very involved with the local duplicate
bridge clubs, and directed several weekly bridge games. He traveled
and participated in bridge tournaments throughout the state.
After retirement, Donald focused on gardening and his beloved
lilies until his final illness.
Donald is survived by: his daughters, Patricia (Allen) Stickels,
Cynthia (Allen) Watanabe, and Kathleen Allen; his significant other,
Mary JoAnn Badner; his brothers, James Allen and Douglas Allen; and
his grandchildren, Katie Watanabe, Amy (Paprocki) Daye and Robert
Stickels.

Donald was preceded in death by: his wife, Shirley (Moes) Allen;
son, Robert Lee Allen; daughter, Sandra Jean Allen; brother, George
Allen; and grandson, Tommy Watanabe.
Cremation has taken place and no services will be held at this
time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation, 967 Spaulding Ave SE, Ada, MI, 49301.
Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Pere Marquette Chapel, is
in charge of arrangements.
www.beaconfh.comPage