John (Jack) Harold Allendorf, Sr., age 92, died peacefully at his home on January 3, 2025. His wish was that he could live independently until the end of his life, and he was able to accomplish that goal.
He was born at home in Hoopeston, Illinois on May 22, 1932 Survived by his children Debbie (Rusty) Maxwell of Overton, Texas, Amy (Jeff) Tarr of Merrillville, Indiana, and John (Jack) Jr. (Jennifer) of Lowell, Indiana, along with his grandchildren Jason Wayte (Melissa), John Allendorf (Brooke), Dustin Tarr, Sarah Maxwell Trevino (Matthew), Jennifer Allendorf Zoladz, Kate Tarr Ramirez (Sylvestor), Kelly Tarr Strazzante (Michael), Christopher Allendorf (Kristin); his great-grandchildren, Alexis Wayte Johnson (Matthew), Ethan Mcfadyen, Kaden Wayte, Lillian Allendorf, Ava Strazzante, Kinsey Trevino, Nathaniel Trevino, Coraline Trevino, Luke Allendorf, Adeline Ramirez, Brady Zoladz, Rowan Ramirez, Alice Ramirez; and one great-great grandchild, Wesley Johnson.
Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Morrison Allendorf, his parents William H. and Beatrice Mullins Allendorf, and his siblings James Dale Allendorf, Majorie Ruth Hernandez (Rueben Hernandez), William Robert Allendorf (Jeannie Fisher Allendorf), and Ruth Allendorf Chaney (Melvin Chaney.), and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Although he was born in Hoopston, Illinois, he lived most of his life in Gary, Indiana and the Northwest Indiana area. He went to Lew Wallace School from Kindergarten until high school, and knew many, many people in and around Glen Park. He never changed much, physically, and looked almost the same from kindergarten to adulthood. People would run into him in his late 80’s and STILL recognize him from grade school! He worked from a young age, his first job being in Choncoff’s bakery in Glen Park, where he found a love for baking. At 18, he voluntarily enlisted in the Army, and asked to be a baker. He reported to army boot camp the DAY the Korean war started, but as he wanted to bake, the army, in its infinite wisdom, trained him as a cook, and sent him to Germany. He returned to the US after his service, and worked at various jobs. He certainly wasn’t lazy. He worked for the EJ&E railroad, and that job later transitioned to a job at US Steel as an in-plant locomotive engineer. As a US Steel worker, he was laid off various times, but he always worked at any kind of job to provide for his family, including house painting, ditch digging, rug-cleaning, carpentry work, and any odd job he could find. He was truly a “Jack of all Trades.” He could build you a garage, fix your car, or repair your lawnmower. He invented tools and shortcuts to make his work easier. He should have patented some of his inventions, but he never did. After he retired, he moved to Royal, Arkansas, where he worked part time, fished a lot, and enjoyed his pontoon boat. After 10 years or so, he and Barbara returned to his beloved NW Indiana, and lived in DeMotte.
Jack was married to Barb for 57 years, until she succumbed to cancer. She was the love of his life, and they worked to build a good life together. He was a talker and a jokester, and she was his best audience. They took wonderful care of each other. They both were particularly proud of the industrial home that they built in Green Acres subdivision. US Steel lay-offs meant that they couldn’t keep the house, but they were very proud of what they had accomplished. They went through ups and downs, but their love endured.
Jack’s personality was such that he always wanted people to laugh. Most people will remember his corny jokes, his chasing after kids in the summer with ice for down their shirts (Ice Man), and his generally lifting the mood around him. He made homemade masks at Halloween, using flour and newspaper like he had learned in his childhood, was the first at Christmas to tune in the radio to follow Santa’s route, and at Easter he would make intricate egg decorations with straight pins and wax. His family grew up with the sound of laughter in their ears, and his optimism was passed along. He was very friendly, and “didn’t meet a stranger.” He could talk to anyone about anything. And he could talk for hours. The family used to joke that he could never be the WalMart greeter, because no customers would be able to get past chatting with him at the front door!!! Anyone who knew him will know this to be true.
He had a strong desire to help people. He was in the Army, and was stationed at Seckenheim, Germany. It was not too many years after WW 2 ended. Times were tough, and food was scarce for the German population. The orphans from the orphanage next to the base would sneak over to get the army’s dinner scraps after hours. They would pick through the nasty garbage items to find edible food scraps for their dinners. He saw them doing that, it distressed him, and he went to the commanding officer requesting that garbage be separated, with food being put in separate containers from other garbage. Jack couldn’t GIVE them regular food due to Army regulations, but he helped them to get food easier, to supplement what the orphanage provided. The commander agreed, and it was implemented at that base.
Jack helped strangers in other ways, too. Many times, his wife and kids woke up to strangers in the house. He would hear on his CB radio that a family was stranded. He would drive out to them, bring them to our house, feed them, warm them up, and then help with whatever their situation was. He pulled people out of ditches and changed many a tire. He had a good heart, and was ready to give a helping hand.
Music—he had unique taste. Just ask his kids. Jack loved Al Jolson records. It was a standing family joke. We still don’t know why. He also loved Andre Ruie, the Belgian conductor. Other hobbies were his wood carving, fishing, birds, and roses. He was not ever interested in sports, except old- fashioned boxing, and bull-fighting, which he could barely tune-in on uhf tv in the 1960’s.
Most of all, Jack loved his family. He loved his kids, his grandkids, his great-grandkids, and his great-great grandkids. He delighted in EVERY family gathering, and couldn’t wait for the family reunion every year. The reunions started in about 1938, and he never missed one. He is survived by not only his immediate family, but by nieces, nephews, cousins, first cousins, second cousins, third cousins, great nieces, great nephews, and everybody in between. And they all loved him. He was a favorite in the family, and he loved them all back. Say the words “Uncle Jack”, and every one of them would smile.
He will be missed. He is the last of his siblings. To his larger extended family, he was the last of the original family of Bea and Bill, and his passing means that our childhood era is over. He was one of a kind. Dad, thank you for everything, thanks for the laugh, and please laugh on—and we will see you in heaven! Until then, we will try to keep laughing, too.
Friends may meet with family Tuesday, January 7, 2024, from 3 to 7 PM at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 370 County Line Road, Hobart, IN. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 6 PM. Once services are completed, cremation will follow and a private burial and graveside service will be held at a later date at Calumet Park Cemetery.