Former Council President Dies at Age 86

Richard “Dick” Allen, of Waukesha, passed away while surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at Watertown Regional Medical Center at the age of 86.

Dick was born in Chicago on April 7, 1925, the son of Everett and Edna (nee Long) Allen.  He moved with his parents in 1928 to Twin Lakes, WI. As a youth, he was in Boy Scouts and enjoyed the pleasures of growing up in a small town. In 1939, Dick graduated from Wilmot High School, where he participated in football and basketball. He was also the sports editor of the school newspaper.  In 1943, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained at Fort Hood in Texas. After leaving the Army, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin School of Business in Madison and graduated in 1947.  While in school, Dick was a member of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity, and he still enjoyed attending reunions until his death.

After graduating from UW-Madison, he went to Chicago where he worked for Home Life Insurance Company.  While there, Dick met his first wife, Kathleen M. Beattie. They were married in January of 1949.  After transferring back to Wisconsin, Dick became involved in the American Legion, started a Business Development Company, and became its first president in December of 1949. In 1953 he moved to Waukesha and began to work for the Celanese Corporation selling plastic molding materials.  In 1962, he became the Midwest Sales Manager for the Chevron Oil Company in the plastic molding materials division.

Dick was then made the national product director and transferred to their home office in New Jersey.  In 1974, he returned to Waukesha and started a sales agency, where he sold molding materials and finished products.  Dick was elected an alderman for the 13^th ward.  He later became the president of the Common Council.  His wife, Kathleen, preceded him in death on Oct. 19, 1983.  In June of 1985, he married Cordelle Lewis and they made their home in Waukesha until the time of her death on Sept. 1, 2006.  Dick retired in 2002, was a member of Elmbrook Church, and was very active in the local Kiwanis Club and many political organizations.

Dick will be dearly missed by his children, Gregory (Jane) Allen of Rohnert Park, California, Barbara (Gary) Niedermeier of Frankfort, Illinois, and Douglas (Susan) Allen of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; his step-children, David Lewis of Chicago, Illinois and Virginia Bilyeu of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; his grandchildren, Kelly Niedermeier of Gallup, New Mexico, Justin (Jennifer) Niedermeier of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Christopher (Samantha Stone) Allen of Rohnert Park, California and Carli Allen of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; his step-grandchildren, Corinna (Peter) Schroeder of Minnesota and Anthony (Fran) Bilyeu of Arizona; his great-grandson, Carson Niedermeier; and many other family and friends.  Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Kathleen; his sister, Marlene Rose Allen-Brunner; and his second wife, Cordelle.

A visitation for Dick will be from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, at the Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188.  Rev. Doug Schoen will be officiating the service. Private family inurnment will be on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dick’s name are preferred by the family to the ProHealth Care OMH Foundation for Heart Research, 791 Summit Ave., Oconomowoc, WI 53066.

is serving the family.  For the online obituary or to leave a message of condolence, please visit http://www.WaukeshasFuneralHome.com, or call 262-542-6609.