Allen Doremus, 67, of Grand Island, died Monday, December 17 at Golden Living Center Lakeview in Grand Island.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Friday at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The Reverend John Nelson will officiate. Burial will be in Cedar Dale Cemetery in Papillion, NE. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Thursday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to two of Allen’s favorite groups; Heartland Lutheran High School or the Orphan Train.

Mr. Doremus was born on October 11, 1945 at Seward, Nebraska to Alvin and Aretta (Clingingsmith) Doremus.

Allen and his partner in fun, Arlene Miller, were united in marriage in 1992. This brought a miraculous blending of two families as Allen had two children and Arlene had three children. The combined family resulted in five children, seventeen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Allen retired in 2006, but he didn’t slow down. He worked on two Laborers for Christ projects; one in Cheyenne, WY and one in Pocatello, ID. When at home he loved spending time in his shop “inventing” things out of old objects lying around. He also had a passion for 1963 Chevy Impalas, canoeing, frog hunting, camping, and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. His passion for Christian education and serving God followed him throughout his life. Besides working with Laborers for Christ, he went on a mission trip to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina to help clean up the devastation. If there were projects to do at the church, he was there to help whenever he could. He also spent time working with Habitat for Humanity while in Omaha.

Allen is survived by his wife of 20 blessed years, Arlene Doremus of Grand Island; a son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Nancy Doremus of Boise, ID and their three children; a daughter Shonae of Omaha and her five children and two grandchildren; a stepson and daughter-in-law, Mark and Sharon Miller of Papillion and their five children; a step daughter Brenda Thille of Omaha and her two children and grandchild; and a stepdaughter Julie Rathman of Lincoln and her two children.

Welcoming Allen to his heavenly home are his parents and a sister, Joan Burling.