Obituary for John Allgaier
John “Big John” Allgaier, of Atkins, accepted the invitation to join Jesus Christ in Heaven September 28, 2021, at the Arkansas River Valley Hospice Home in Russellville. He was born April 30, 1937, in Merril, Wisconsin, and moved to Bellevue, Michigan, at the age of 4. Following his high school graduation, he and a friend relocated to Resida, California, and after bouncing around in a variety of jobs settled in at North American Rockwell Rocketdyne Plant.
John always wanted to be a business owner and he finally got his wish when he purchased his first beer bar. The Red Room grew into a successful enterprise, but just to be on the safe side, he kept his position at Rocketdyne. Soon he bought a second bar, The Wooden Nickel, and it too proved to be very profitable. He met his wife, Ellen, when she applied for a waitress job during lunch hours at The Red Room. They married in August of 1974.
He was driving around one day and spotted a condemned property for sale in nearby Simi Valley. The house such as it was needed a thorough restoration. It was a great opportunity to subdivide the acreage so he could build brand new homes on it.
In 1979, the couple decided to leave California and they settled in the River Valley area in Russellville, Arkansas. Another remodel was underway. His first business venture in Arkansas was hauling dirt and gravel when he bought his first dump truck. He named the business All-Ark Load and Dump. A success, he soon added a second truck. Some property became available on Weir Rd. in Russellville, so they purchased it and over the years expanded the business.
Meanwhile, he owned and operated The General Store on the corner of Hwy 124 and 326. Busy times – his first business following the store was mechanical, having started Russellville Engine Exchange. He eventually closed that up to make room for his thriving tire business. He continued to build new homes and remodel several properties as the years went by.
He loved his ‘farm’ out in Blackwell, where he grew vegetables and raised cattle. Over the years, he looked forward to his fishing trips with buddies in Michigan and Arkansas.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen of Blackwell; sisters, Betty Boyer of Bellevue, Michigan, and Rose Harris (Bob) of Sarasota, Florida; and several loving nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM, Monday, October 4, at Agape Community Church with Pastor Tony Sparks officiating.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com.
John always wanted to be a business owner and he finally got his wish when he purchased his first beer bar. The Red Room grew into a successful enterprise, but just to be on the safe side, he kept his position at Rocketdyne. Soon he bought a second bar, The Wooden Nickel, and it too proved to be very profitable. He met his wife, Ellen, when she applied for a waitress job during lunch hours at The Red Room. They married in August of 1974.
He was driving around one day and spotted a condemned property for sale in nearby Simi Valley. The house such as it was needed a thorough restoration. It was a great opportunity to subdivide the acreage so he could build brand new homes on it.
In 1979, the couple decided to leave California and they settled in the River Valley area in Russellville, Arkansas. Another remodel was underway. His first business venture in Arkansas was hauling dirt and gravel when he bought his first dump truck. He named the business All-Ark Load and Dump. A success, he soon added a second truck. Some property became available on Weir Rd. in Russellville, so they purchased it and over the years expanded the business.
Meanwhile, he owned and operated The General Store on the corner of Hwy 124 and 326. Busy times – his first business following the store was mechanical, having started Russellville Engine Exchange. He eventually closed that up to make room for his thriving tire business. He continued to build new homes and remodel several properties as the years went by.
He loved his ‘farm’ out in Blackwell, where he grew vegetables and raised cattle. Over the years, he looked forward to his fishing trips with buddies in Michigan and Arkansas.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen of Blackwell; sisters, Betty Boyer of Bellevue, Michigan, and Rose Harris (Bob) of Sarasota, Florida; and several loving nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM, Monday, October 4, at Agape Community Church with Pastor Tony Sparks officiating.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com.