Roger “Pancho” Lee Allen, 80, of Marshalltown, passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics from complications of a stroke and nothing related to the COVID-19 virus.

Funeral services for Roger will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will be on Friday, May 22 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. also at the funeral home. Due to a visitation still being considered a social gathering and not a religious event, we must follow the guidelines of no more than 10 people gathered at a time and will accommodate this by rotating people as they come. We encourage individuals to wear a mask and practice social distancing. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Pancho and his family. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Roger Lee Allen was born on July 28, 1939 in Rhodes, Iowa to Fred and Grace (Kroener) Allen. He graduated from Rhodes High School in May of 1958 and started working at Lennox Industries on September 9, 1958 and retired exactly 50 years to the date, on September 9, 2008. Most years, of any past employee, at time of retirement, Roger was in the stock room, but he started as a sheer operator helper (with Benny Vajgrt) and became a sheer operator, group leader and control box assembler just to name a few. At the time of his retirement Roger had a near perfect attendance and was presented an “Excellence In Service Award for 50 years without an OSHA Recordable or Lost Time Accident”.  Roger met Linda Heuer in 1958 and was married on December 17, 1960. They opened Allen’s Motorcycle (Honda) Shop in May of 1965 and retired and closed the shop in the fall of 2019. Roger was proud of his hosta beds with over 200 different varieties and many flowers and trees and his vegetable garden, especially tomatoes and cucumbers. Roger and Linda worked together canning tomato juice and sweet chili sauce. He enjoyed sitting on the deck and enjoying nature. He fed the birds and deer and any others that found the feeders. Roger always called two of his daughters every day as they drove to work at 5 and 6 in the morning. He loved to grill and use his smoker, and he made the best baby back ribs. Roger would also go to the garage to cook bacon and breakfast on Sundays when the family was home. Many customers will remember the African Gray bird he had at the Honda Shop and sometimes they would just stop in to see the bird (Trey). Roger also enjoyed his “retire naps”, riding motorcycles and ATV’s with friends and family. He was always stirring the pot to see how much trouble he could cause. Roger would frequently have bets with Jennifer and if there was a dispute, he would always ask “want to bet a quarter”. He often had to watch the Price is Right every morning before he could start the day and gave his opinion on how they were bidding. Roger loved western shows and movies especially Matt Dillon, Gun Smoke and John Wayne and followed the Miami Dolphins. He was always available to pick up his grandchildren as they flew in and out of Des Moines to the Marines or to college.

Roger is survived by his wife of 59 years, Linda; daughters: Theresa Steward of Cedar Rapids, Jennifer Everts of Garwin and Jacqueline (Michael) Allenstein of Clear Lake. Grandchildren: Lindsey Steward of Cedar Rapids, Ashley Allenstein of Clear Lake, Christopher (Brianna) Everts of New Bern, North Carolina, Brittney Everts of Marshalltown and Mindy Allenstein of Clear Lake. Great grandchildren: Sebastian Steward of Cedar Rapids and Noah Everts of New Bern, North Carolina. He is also survived by his brother; Lloyd (Judy) Allen of Pleasant Hill and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Malinda (passed away on August 9, 1991); parents: Fred and Grace; siblings: Wallace, Richard and William (still born); grandparents: Souvern William and Mary Ann Allen, and George and Elizabeth Kroener. Roger is also preceded in death by his great grandfather, James Green Allen (Clarinda) whom was the first permanent settler of Eden Township that is now Rhodes; and his in laws Forrest and Frances Heuer.