Allen M. Koleff

Allen was born March 4,1938 to Lillian Vondrasek Koleff and Michael Koleff.  He attended school in Chicago, skipping the third grade.  He was a competitive swimmer in high school and a member of the Boy Scouts, becoming an Eagle in 1952.

               After graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, he worked for two years on campus for the Institute of Gas Technology, while studying for a Master’s degree.

               He then moved his growing family to Decatur, Illinois where he was employed by A.E.Staley Co, processors of corn and soybeans.  When the company went international, the family moved again and he oversaw the construction of, and then managed, a corn starch plant in San Pedro Sula, Honduras for the next three years.

               Upon returning to the U.S., he continued working in Staley’s international division until the constant travel, although providing many frequent flyer miles, proved to be too much of a loss in family time.

               He then went to work for Stone Container Corp.  He became their one man environmental guru.  The following 20 years saw environmental concerns rising and the department grew from one man to a division of the company, all engineers and support staff.

               Despite a demanding career, Allen was first of all a family man.  He made sure he was available for the activities and important events of a growing family.  From Indian Scouts (he was Bald Eagle) to college graduations, he was there.

               Allen’s story would not be complete without the subject of golf.  His first set of clubs were a gift upon graduating from IIT.  He learned and loved the game and became proficient enough to have twice scored a hole in one.

               He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joan, his daughter Laura and her husband John, daughter Melissa and her husband Cal, and son Scott, as well as six grandchildren and six ¾ great grandchildren. 

A Memorial Service will be 2PM on November 8, 2025 at Tryon Estates.

Sanders Funeral Home.

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