Allen Wayne Randecker

Allen Wayne Randecker, age 85, of Massbach, IL, passed away, surrounded by family on September 2, 2024, at Midwest Senior Care Center in Galena, IL. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Massbach. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., before the service. Burial will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Allen was born September 10, 1938 in Derinda Township, the son of William and Mildred (Endress) Randecker. He graduated from Stockton High School with the class of 1956, then enlisted In the United States Army Reserve, later that year, serving for eight years. Allen was proud of his service, and later, of his grandsons’ service to this nation; Sgt. Isaac Brucker, Army, and Petty Officer Second Class Colin Dvorak, Navy.

On July 30, 1960, Allen married Margaret Ann Farnam at Trinity Church of Freeport, IL. They would go on to raise five children and make their lives in the Massbach area.

Many of Allen’s talents involved the use of his hands, with the appropriate amount of hard work added to the equation. He was self-employed most of his life, working farming and construction jobs. He owned and operated Hillcrest Construction for decades and became the owner/real estate broker of the Century 21 Stockton office.

Allen’s productive mentality extended beyond his professional life, into his community involvement. He was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, serving on the church council and taking an active role in many of the church’s affairs. He served as a Jo Daviess County Republican Committeeman and was a Who’s Who Honored Member in 1989.

Even with so many irons in the fire throughout his life, nothing got in the way of quality time and acts of love, for his family. A talented woodworker, Allen built his and Margaret’s dream family home, complete with a full wood shop in the basement. There he made grandfather clocks for his children, along with numerous wall clocks for his many grandchildren. There were almost too many wood working projects to count over the years, but his last project, hand-carved comfort crosses, will remain extra special to his family.

In his free time, Allen was always juggling projects, but two of his favorites were the completed restorations of his father’s 1938 Farmall F 20 tractor, and a Farmall 1935 F 12 tractor. His skilled work with his hands wasn’t limited to wood and machinery, as he was also blessed with a green thumb, that he put to use in his garden.

As he grew older, much of his love was directed at his grandchildren; he loved attending their games and events, and he and Margaret spent many of their winters in Arizona. There he joined Tower Point Wood Working Woodshop, serving as President, and performed mission work for Victory Lutheran Church, in Mesa, as well as participated in a Habitat for Humanity house building project. He and Margaret enjoyed their time in Arizona and made many meaningful friendships.

Allen is survived by his wife of 64 years, Margaret; children, Debra (Mark) Heidenreich, of Stockton, IL, Jeffrey (Sharon) Randecker, of Elizabeth; Carolyn (David) Hellyer, of Ames, IA, Kimberly (Thomas) Brucker, of Sibley, IL, and Janet (Joseph) Dvorak, of Stockton; 13 grandchildren, Timothy (Dannielle) Heidenreich, of Chadwick, IL, David (Anna) Heidenreich, of Bettendorf, IA, Jonathon Heidenreich, of Stockton, William (Jaycee) Heidenreich, of Warren, IL, Justin (Dana Groom) Randecker, of Shullsburg, WI, Ryan (Shannon) Randecker, of Elizabeth, Paul Hellyer of Ames, Jennay (Forest) Rowley, of Ames, Eli Brucker, of Sibley, IL, Isaac Brucker, of Fort Liberty, NC, Aaron (Emma Earles) Dvorak, of Dubuque, IA, Colin Dvorak, of Whidbey Island, WA, and Jared (Emily Dahlman) Dvorak, of Stockton, IL; 10 great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Malia, Matthew, Gavin, Paxton, Andi, Leo, Layla, Hazel-Ann, and Otto, with another great grandson on the way; and two sisters, Ione Mueller, of Mt. Carroll, IL and Norma Randecker, of Freeport.

Allen is preceded in death by his parents, William and Mildred; sister, Phyllis Jean (Harold) Miller; brother, Robert (Linda) Randecker; brother-in-law, Fred Mueller; nephews, Larry Miller and Randy Gelwick; sister-in-law, Barbara Jean Paul; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, LeRoy “Weed” and Miriam Farnam.