Allen Carter Clendenin

ALLEN CARTER CLENDENIN, 77 , of Rockwood, Illinois, passed away surrounded by his family at 9:10 pm, Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

He was born to the late Robert Morgan and Mabel Mary (nee Brown) Clendenin on February 16, 1940 in Rockwood, Illinois.

He married Melba Jean Bauersachs on April 12, 1963 in Cutler, Illinois.  She survives

Allen was the seventh of nine siblings and had an interesting birth in that he was born prematurely and fit in a shoebox; they kept him in the shoebox and in the oven with the door open to keep him warm until the doctor arrived. After graduating from Chester High School, Allen attended McKendree College for a year where he played basketball and pitched on the baseball team before leaving to pursue his passion of pitching baseball. He spent time pitching on a farm team for the Philadelphia Phillies. Later, he attended Southern Illinois University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts Education. Allen taught Industrial Arts at Jerseyville High School in Jerseyville, IL and Chester High School in Chester, IL. After teaching, Allen farmed for 43 years from 1973 – 2016.

Allen was the longest elected member to the Chester Community Unit School District Board of Education.  He faithfully served on the School Board for 20 years and was president for 8 of those years.  Allen also served on the Ebenezer Cemetery Board.

He was an avid mushroom hunter and knew where all the dead elm trees were.

Allen attended the First Baptist Church of Chester, IL where he was ordained a deacon and served the church in that capacity over the years.

Survivors:

Wife:         Melba Jean Clendenin                                     Rockwood, IL

5 Children: Troy Allen (Connie, nee McCormick) Clendenin  Rockwood, IL

Kevin Carter (Becky, nee Farmer) Clendenin     Rockwood, IL

Roger Dale (Eleanor, nee Rathert) Clendenin    Rockwood, IL

Vena Lynn (Ryan) Hallahan                                La Mesa, CA

April Jean (Travis) Jungewaelter                        Mascoutah, IL

15 Grandchildren: Jordan Elizabeth, Joel Allen and Rachel Lynn Clendenin

Justin Carter, Daniel Robert and Maggie Elizabeth Clendenin

Calvin Dale and Peyton Shea Clendenin

Carter James, Jada Lynn, Grace Jean and Rylee Joy Hallahan

Donovan Mark, Jonah Allen and Avery Jean Jungewaelter

3 Siblings:          Mary Ann Bunselmeyer

Sue Klindworth

Bernice Cowan

2 Sisters-in-law: Mildred Gregory

Donna Clendenin

Many Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends

Preceded in death by : Parents, 4 Brothers – Roger, Ted, Jimmy and Leonard, 1 Sister – Katherine McClurken and 2 Brothers-in-law – Harold Bunselmeyer and Stanley Cowan

Funeral Service :        10:00 am, Monday, July 17, 2017

First Baptist Church, Chester, Illinois

Officiating: Rev. John Little

Interment :                  Ebenezer Cemetery

Rockwood, Illinois

Visitation :                   Sunday, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home, Chester, Illinois

Monday, 9:00 am – 10:00 am

First Baptist Church, Chester, Illinois

Memorials: Baptist Children’s Home in Carmi, Illinois

Ebenezer Cemetery, Rockwood, Illinois