Allan Mark Houchins 1946 - 2005

HOUCHINS, ARROW, JENSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/19/2013 at 17:22:07

Sioux City Journal
12 January 2005

Allan Mark Houchins, 58, of Sioux City died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005, at his residence.

Services will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Community Presbyterian Church in Lawton, Iowa, with the Rev. Jim Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Banner Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. a Masonic service at 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel in Sioux City.

Mr. Houchins was born Oct. 18, 1946, in Sioux City, the son of Delroy Ellison and Anna Marie (Arrow) Houchins. He graduated from Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah, in 1964 and attended Morningside College and obtained a bachelor of science degree.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964 to 1968 in communications and electronics. From 1964 to 1965, he served with L Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division Marine Air Base Squadron 33. He served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. He then serve with the U.S. Army Reserves in Sioux City with the Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion 14th Field Artillery from August 1974 to February 1990. He served from February 1990 to August 1990 with the 5041st Field Artillery, U.S. Army Reserves in Davenport, Iowa. He retired in August 1990 in Minneapolis obtaining the rank of first sergeant/master sergeant. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. He was named Outstanding Soldier of the Year in 1983.

He was employed with Sioux City Water Department from August 1968 to April 1969. He married Pam Jensen at Community Presbyterian Church in Lawton on May 14, 1969. He then was employed with the Sioux City Police Department from 1969 through 2001, achieving the rank of master patrolman. He also was a field training officer.

He was a member of Community Presbyterian Church, Landmark Lodge, Shrine Wrecking Crew, Iowa Policeman's Association and the Order of St. Barbara -- Field Artillery. He enjoyed reading, history and spending time with his granddaughter.

Survivors include his wife, Pamela Rae Houchins of Sioux City; his mother, Anna Marie Houchins; his stepmother, Dorothy Fischer-Houchins; a daughter and her husband, Amy A. and Tom Post of Des Moines; a son, Jordon Lee Houchins of Fort Stewart, Ga.; a granddaughter, Katie Post; a brother, Art Houchins of Sioux City; and five sisters, Ina and her husband, Bob Miller of Dakota City, Irene and her husband, Don Bauza of Solvikia, Eugenie and her husband, Bill Pelchat of Sioux City, Marlene Stout of Manderson, S.D., and Colleen Pipes of Akron, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his father Delroy Ellison Houchins; a brother, Evans Anderson; and maternal grandparents, Guy and Beaulah Arrow.

Pallbearers will be his friends, Jay Fleckenstein, Pat Breyfogle, Tom Trammell, Jason W. Braunschweig, Kaia Downing and Thad Boyer.