Robert E. “Dobber” Allen, 87, of Galena, passed away Thursday, March 10, 2016, at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna, Ill.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 18, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Galena. Military honors will be accorded graveside by the Galena VFW Post #2665 and American Legion Post #193.

He was born on April 10, 1928, in Dubuque, son of Harry and Laura Allen. He was a graduate of Galena High School. He married Mary “Mame” Hefel on Nov. 29, 1952, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Galena. She preceded him in death on May 21, 2005. He served his country in the Army from 1953 to 1954. After his discharge from the Army he attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, earning his Bachelor’s Degree. Soon after graduation he began his career as a mechanical engineer – tool designer for John Deere Dubuque Works until his retirement.

Dobber was a huge sports fanatic. Cheering on the Chicago Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks. During and after high school he excelled in all sports, but baseball was his game. A left-handed batter and first base player earned him the nickname of “Lefty.” He often told his family of his years traveling through-out the Tri-State area playing baseball with his Galena teammates. In his later years golf became his game of choice, where he accumulated quite a few trophies from the Galena Golf Club. Every Sunday his son Steve and him had a standard 8 a.m. tee time and as his grandsons Doug and Matt grew older they also would join them for the Sunday game.

The most important part of his life was his family. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren always filled him with pride and made him smile. Dobber was a kind, caring, gentle and loving man. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Surviving are his children, Cathy (Glen) Hamaker, of Battle Ground, Wash., and Steve (Michelle) Allen, of Galena; his grandchildren, Amy (Eric) Peterson, of Brush Prairie, Wash., Doug (Jamie Otis) Allen, of Oregon City, Ore., and Matt (Ashley Dieter) Allen, of Galena; his great-grandchildren, Jordan and Taylor Peterson and Payton and Wyatt Allen; his brothers-in-law, Leo (Sharon) Hefel and Clyde (Donna) Hefel, both of Galena, and Dean Kuehl, of Stockton; and his many nieces and nephews.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, JoAnn Bush and Jeanette Kuehl; and a brother-in-law, Jim Hefel.

The family would like to thank the staff at Big Meadows for the wonderful care they gave to him.