Dan grew up in the Grand Rapids area and in his youth would help on the family farm in Coopersville. He attended All Saints Academy at St. Alphonsus then went on to graduate from Grand Rapids Catholic Central in 1958. He went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Josephine, and the couple spent many wonderful years together until her passing in 2004. Dan held many different careers throughout his life. He was an underwriter for an insurance agency and then began to work for Monarch Hydraulics in 1961- then retiring in 2000. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and in his youth-bowling. He loved animals, especially his beloved dog, Gunner. Dan was a family man and his favorite thing of all was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who all knew him as “Popsy”. Dan was a resilient, loving, and hard working man who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Dan was preceded in death by: wife, Josephine Allen; son, Scott Allen; parents, Vernon and Eldora Allen; brother, Tom Allen; and sister-in-law, Eleanor Allen
Dan is survived by: children, Jody (Edward) Lavery, Cindy (Charlie) Stuart, and Kim (Dennis) Tomasik; grandchildren, Trevor Lavery, Paige (Joe) Lavery, Nate (Kim) Stuart, Nikki Potratz, Ethan (Sarah) Tomasik, and Shelby (Jake) Tolan; as well as, 9 great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Monday, November 6, 2023 at Reyers North Valley Chapel, 2815 Fuller Ave NE, from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place the following day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 11:00 am at St. Alphonsus Parish, 224 Carrier St. NE. The family will welcome guests one hour prior to the start of mass. Dan will be laid to rest at Rosedale Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Arthritis Foundation or The Alzheimer's Association.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff of The Oaks at Belmont for their kind words and compassionate care given to Dan in his final months.
