LOW, Allen George 1929-2009

LOW

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 7/28/2009 at 10:43:31

NORTHWOOD, IOWA - Allen George "Sonny" Low, 80, of Northwood, died Saturday, July 25, 2009, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A funeral service for Allen will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at the United Methodist Church, 1000 First Ave. N., Northwood, with the Rev. Wendi Gillan officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. today, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S. Northwood. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Wednesday at the church.

The family of Allen Low suggests that those wishing to give a memorial may do so to the Allen George Low Memorial Fund in his memory.

Allen George Low was born on March 15, 1929, in Worth County, the son of Manly and Blanche (Wells) Low. Allen attended Northwood High School where he was a star center basketball player, and in 1947, they won the state championship.

Allen married the love of his life Deloris Flatness on Nov. 28, 1948, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa; they celebrated their 60th anniversary just last year.

Allen started farming and worked hard all his life he also worked for his brother Richard in the service station, and sold International Harvester equipment for Helgeson Motors for several years.

Allen was always fond of auctions and wanted to be an auctioneer. He attended Reisch World Wide Auction College in Mason City in 1974, and was in the business for 35 years. He eventually was an instructor at the college for over 10 years, and taught the art of auctioneering to over 6,000 students from all over the United States and several foreign countries.

Allen was proud to teach his son Dan auctioneering, and they were in business together and have held hundreds of auctions - a business which Dan still operates today.

Allen loved farming he raised hogs, grain crops, and especially enjoyed his cow calf herd. Allen also enjoyed having son Keith take over the farming operation and looked forward and got to see his grandson Chris graduate from college with an ag degree and carry on Low Farms.

Allen after retiring and moving into town, continued to go to the farm. Nearly every day he would tell Deloris that he had to go out and feed Raven the farm dog, or maybe spray the fruit trees or check on the cattle in the pasture on the south farm or simply watch the harvesting or take the grandkids doughnuts, or he could always come up with something.

Allen enjoyed Sunday drives and had several nice trips to Texas and Arizona to visit friends, and also Northern Minnesota fishing.

He enjoyed collecting antiques and collectables and enjoyed having coffee and visiting with his friends at the Corner Post in Northwood.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Northwood.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Deloris of Northwood; sons, Dan Low and Keith (June) Low, of Northwood; grandchildren, Chris Low, of Northwood, Amanda Low, of Clear Lake, Dae McClanahan of Washington; great-grandchildren, Porscha, Cody, Rypleigh McClanahan, and Chance Haskins, all of Washington; brothers, Carroll "Micky" Low, of Lake Mills, Richard (Marge) Low, of Northwood; sister, Bernice "Sis" Estes of Northwood; brother and sisters-in-law, Ron and Ragna Flatness of Mason City, Eleanor Low of Osage, Dorothy Low and Pat Low of Northwood; several nieces, nephews and many extended family members and friends.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Manly and Blanche Low, infant son,Tim Low; brothers, Clarence "Babe" (Luella) Low, Vale (Bernice) Low, Lyle "Bub" Low, Harold "Honey" Low, and Russell Low; sisters, Lucille "Cile" (George) Mathews, Arlene "Snooky" (Carl) Grosland, and Pearl (Leif) Weston; and a brother-in-law, Drexell Estes.

Conner Colonial Chapel, 641-324-1543; www.colonialchapels.com .

[Published in the Globe Gazette online, 7/28/2009]