John Dwight Allen

John Dwight Allen was born on June 22, 1945, to John (Jack) and Jean (nee Drover) Allen, in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He grew up in the ‘yard’ with his beloved sisters Linda, Jessie, Lorna and his younger brother Kelly. John would take Kelly eel spearing down the sand flats, Kelly thought very highly of his big brother. They were surrounded by cousins and extended family. They all swam at the wharf together, and skated on the harbour when it froze. Jack would take John and all the kids up Sydney Harbour in his ice boat.

After graduation from high school, John would frequently move between Brampton, Ontario and Cape Breton, for work. In 1975, John was living in Brampton once again, when he met the love of his life, Laura Nicolle. They lived next door to each other in an apartment building when John befriended Laura’s brother Jim, in hopes of meeting her and winning her heart. Eventually, he did.

One year later in 1976, John and Laura were overjoyed when their first son Rick John Allen was born, and that joy continued with their second son Jason Philip Allen in 1978. This completed their family, in which John had already been blessed with his son Shawn Allen and his dearest daughter Tara Lee Allen.

John and Laura were married on July 27, 1979.

In the 1980’s John worked hard in Ontario to provide for his family. He enjoyed family gatherings at the Schaumps and the Fitzpatricks, among many others. John and Laura enjoyed their life together in Ontario but John was always longing for home.

In 1989, John and Laura moved the family back to Cape Breton for a more peaceful life. John began his career as a painter, trained by his best friend Albert Sampson.

John continued to enjoy all his favorite hobbies including gardening, raising chickens, hunting, and fishing. One of his favorite parts of being home again was to share so many of his childhood memories with his kids and for them to experience growing up where he did.

Family parties with his sisters, nieces and nephews and cousins, watching Rick play hockey, swimming in the ocean, teaching Jason about body building were just some of the times John enjoyed during the 1990’s. John and Laura loved to go on long walks through the trails and woods and they picked blueberries along the way.

John had a very strong work ethic which he passed on to his kids and it helped to prepare them to leave home after graduating, to start new lives out west.

In 2001, John and Laura left Cape Breton and followed their kids and grandkids to Alberta. After a few years working at UFA, John entered his retirement years. His days were filled with his favorite activities like ‘chasing empties’, biking, gardening, woodworking and fixing things in his garage. He would paint and repaint everything Laura would ask him to and build birdhouses and boat shelves for her and many family members and friends. Even though all these things brought him so much joy, his greatest joy was his family.

He spent a lot of time with his grandkids, taking them to sports, picking them up from school, telling them all the tales of his childhood. In the summertime, he would often return home to Cape Breton for family reunions. He loved taking rides on Troy’s boat with Rick, spending time with his sisters, Ralph, Jeannine and Renee and all the other close family members.

In the last few years of his life, John enjoyed spending each day with the love of his life. They loved to do yard work together, go for walks, and plant flowers. Also, one of his favorite pastimes was to sit on the swing and bird watch with Laura. And of course, he loved to watch his Oilers and Blue Jays and any other sport he could find on tv.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Laura, his sons Rick, Jason (Debbie), Shawn and his daughter Tara. Also, his grandchildren Breezey, Josiah, Makaylie, Olivia, Eli, Jordan, Taren, Beth, Cameron, Laycie, Madison, Cohen, Jayden, Rachael, Ava-Grace, and Logan. His sisters Linda (Bill), Jessie (Danny), Lorna (Chris) and his brother Kelly (Danielle). His nieces Jeannine (Shaun) and Renee (Tony) and many more nieces, nephews, and cousins.

John was predeceased by his loving parents, Ralph Allen and Albert Sampson, also by his daughter-in-law Ronalee Allen.

The Celebration of Life service for John Allen will be held at Hainstock’s Funeral Home, 9810 34 Ave NW,

Edmonton on Saturday, June 1st at 11am. Burial will follow at South Haven Cemetery, 5004 Meridian St NW at 12 noon immediately following the service.

** For anyone who cannot make it in person, the service will be live streamed through a link beside the service information on this obituary page**