Michael Murl Allen, 69, of Oshkosh passed away early Sunday morning, October 17, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 23, 2021, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Oshkosh with Pastor Scotty Ray officiating.
Services will be streamed live and available to watch after the service on the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hbfunerals).
Memorials in Mike’s name can be made to the Garden County Youth Wrestling Club or Garden County Baseball program.
Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Allen family.
Michael Murl Allen and his twin were born March 13, 1952, in Oshkosh to Hershel Murl and Shirlie Hope (Zoucha) Allen. The family moved to California in 1953 returning to the area in 1967, however during a lot of the summer years they returned to work on the family farms and ranches. He graduated from Garden County High School in 1970.
After high school he joined the Navy. He was stationed in California and after his discharge he once again came home. On a trip through Colorado, he met his future wife, Joanne Beals, and they were married shortly after on July 30, 1977. They lived in Iowa and welcomed a baby girl, Sarah in 1980. In 1984, Mike and Joanne moved back to Oshkosh and were joined by son, Matthew in 1985 and daughter, Hannah in 1987.
The year of 1985 also brought Mine & Mike’s to Oshkosh. They owned and operated the bar for almost 23 years. After closing the bar, Mike started carpentry work.
Mike loved baseball. Whether playing or watching, he was interested. For years he was a Federation Wrestling coach. Mike also enjoyed motorcycles, hunting, fishing, but what he enjoyed most was being a grandpa.
Mike never knew a stranger and had a way of always befriending and helping out kids.
He is survived by his wife, Joanne; children, Sarah and husband, Stephen Otero of Crested Butte, CO, Matthew and wife, Hallie Allen of Oshkosh, and Hannah and husband, Dustin Riese; 9 grandchildren (his baseball team), Sophia and Dustin Otero, Kadren, Emma, Leah, and Myles Allen, Sabastian, Sawyer, Remington Riese; brother, Patrick and wife, Susan Allen of Oshkosh; mother-in-law, Sue Beals of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and a large extended family and many lifelong friends.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, niece, April Zoucha Tafoya, and father-in-law, Howard Beals.