Keith Allen

Keith Allen, 76, of Green Ridge passed away Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. He was born on January 1, 1942 in Sedalia, the son of Stuart and LaVerna (Gregory) Allen, who preceded him in death.

Keith left home after high school and migrated to Arizona where he worked for Valley National Bank. He married and had two children, Tanya and B.K. While in Arizona, he was drafted in 1967 and was assigned to the infantry and sent to Vietnam in 1968. From there, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Third Brigade. He was wounded in December 1968 and spent the next 13 months in hospitals in Vietnam, Japan and Denver, CO. Keith was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and various Vietnam Campaign ribbon. He was medically retired from the U.S. Army in 1970. He was a member of the Windsor American Legion Post #82, Windsor VFW Post 2610 and currently a member of Sedalia VFW Post #2591.

Keith enrolled in college in 1970 under the GI Bill. He graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1973 with a BS in Agriculture Business. His career included stints with the Missouri department of Agriculture, Centerre Bank, State Fair Community College and Missouri Farm Bureau.

On January 6, 2000, in Hot Springs, AR, he was united in marriage to Barb Dorge and got two more children in the deal, Beth and Doug. When they stated getting grandchildren, he and Barb decided that the word "step" was negative and demeaning, so they just called them all "Our Grandchildren".

In addition to this wife Barb, he is survived by a son B.K. Allen and his wife Kristy of Green Ridge; a daughter Tanya Allen of New Mexico; Barb's daughter Beth Duepner and her husband Jeff of St. Louis, MO and son Doug Dorge and his wife Colleen of Jefferson City, MO; eight grandchildren, Sara Larimore (Garrett), Ashley Hampton, Kristyn Duepner, Anna Duepner, Michael Koestner, Merry Jo Allen, Michaela Bey and Dallas Egbert; two great grandchildren, Dixon Larimore and Layla Egbert.

A celebration of life gathering of family and friends will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at the Green Ridge Recreation Center on the west side of Green Ridge.

Burial will be take place at a later time in Hickory Point Cemetery, Green Ridge, with full military honors conducted by Sedalia VFW Post #2591 and the Missouri Army National Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hickory Point Cemetery in care of Rea Funeral Chapel, Sedalia.