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"God took my father when I was 21, but soon after he sent Jack.

He was nurturing, open, communicative, he pretty much told you like it was.

He opened my eyes to the potential I had and modeled that we all are continuous learners.  Though we didn’t always see eye to eye; he listened to my words, was respectful and kept an open mind.

Thank you, Jack, for making my life richer and giving me so many wonderful memories."

                                    ~ Delivered by a step-daughter – Jill.Hoffelder

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"My father had another hobby and past-time, flying a Cessna airplane. One of the greatest memories (when he was a hero in his teenage daughter's eyes) that I have of my father, occurred on July 12, 1971.  I was 17 years old.   This Saturday morning, he and I took off from Metropolitan Airport in Indianapolis  with another friend, Chet Miller.  I believe we dropped off Chet Miller in Ohio.  Dad and I continued flying east a little longer.

It got overcast shortly, and we were flying through clouds that looks like cotton balls - no blue visible at all.  Dad was getting real nervous, and said we had better turn back.  I kept egging him on.  I said, "Wouldn't it be great if we flew to Virginia, and had lunch with Grandma Doumas!  Wouldn't that be cool!!!!"

Dad was real nervous by now.  He said, "Amy, I can't see anything!  I will have to rely solely on instruments!"  I said, "Isn't that what you are trained to do, Dad?"  Well, we made it to Fredericksburg, VA.  Surprised my grandmother, had lunch with her and returned home by about 4:30pm that afternoon.  I ran into the kitchen and yelled, "Mom ! Mom! Guess who we had lunch with?!"  Dad came into the kitchen, and we told her the story.  Mom was so surprised.  Dad was the greatest that day in my eyes.

The last words I said to my father were, "have a wonderful time on your cruise;  have a safe trip."  I have heard reports that he WAS having a wonderful time on this cruise in the Caribbean, along with his sister, Betty and brother-in-law C.B. 
And with Jeanne's love and assistance, Dad had a glorious trip Home."

                                                 ~ Delivered by his daughter -- Amy L. Allison

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"Good afternoon on this beautiful day and greetings to members of the Allison, Carteaux, Doumas, Collins and Coussins families and as well, friends of Jack Allison. To stand here and to look out on this gathering of incredible people is living testimony to the incredible person that he was. The man who had the most influence on the man I became passed away on November 17. My father was 77.

For the first time in my life, I'll celebrate Christmas this year without my dad. It has been said that the loss of a parent is one of life's most traumatic events. I now know the devastating truth of that statement. I've been told that, in time, the hurt will fade, only to be replaced by positive memories that soothe the soul. Already, I can feel that happening.

Maybe it's because my father and I had a simple and loving relationship. He was a remarkably good man, like many of the inspiring role models that I saw as a child as well as have had experienced in my professional life. Like them, he was a person of devotion and integrity, a man who maintained optimism while learning to cope with life’s unpredictable challenges. My goal as a young boy was to grow up to be at least half the man and father that he was to me.

His core accomplishment was family. And as one of his children I was able to experience his pouring of love and energy into me and my sister during our most formative years only to turn around and see him do it again with Jeanne’s fully grown children. That is why I measure his life in the family values and the work ethic that he has created for me and others. My dad was incredibly creative; he passed on to me the ability for a left-brained engineer to be a right brain artist.

And now for the memories: We would drive to get fresh donuts on Saturday mornings together. We would actually start to eat many of them before we got home. We would sailboat race on Geist Reservoir together. We would do odd jobs around the house together. We would go to Indian Guides meetings together. He would take me to Anderson airport to watch him learn how to pilot an airplane. He got me a job in his Civil Engineering surveyor firm which helped to teach me about the meaning of a hard day’s work. He was there with me for the many times I stumbled.

And I remember these things as if we had done them all last weekend -- because we did them again and again and again, as vividly as a great piece of music where you know every word, every note, every solo taken by every member of the band. You know it until it becomes part of you, until it becomes you.

His companionship, wit and gentlemanly southern charm has touched all our lives. The Allison name is a hard one to fill, but thanks for the help of one red-haired leader in this room that I will get help.

As many of you know my dad loved to travel. And for what he has given each of us I am pleased that I have very good news to share with you today. This is that he will get to travel with each of us forever. As each of us here today travel he will always be there with us in that imaginary seat next to us. Oh, and one last thing……..leave room for his dog at his feet."

~ Delivered by his son -- John B. Allison, III

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