A memorial service will be held at a future date for 84-year-old Allen J. “AJ” Whelan of Prairie du Rocher, Ill, who passed away at 3:00 a.m., Saturday, January 13, 2024 at his residence.
He was born August 25, 1939 in Tipton, Ill. a son of Albert and Anna (nee Jaenke) Whelan. They preceded him in death.
Allen married Freeda M. Bennett on March 31, 1959 at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Red Bud, Illinois; she preceded him in death on March 7, 2018.
He is survived by three children: Keith (Tammie) Whelan of St. Marys, Mo., Deborah (Richard) Davitz of Red Bud, Ill., and Chris (Karen) Whelan of Branson, Mo.; two siblings: Gerald Whelan of Prairie du Rocher, Ill. and Nancy Kruse of Ruma, Ill.; two sisters-in-law: Mable Whelan of Waterloo, Ill. and
Shirley (Ronald) Jaenke of Red Bud, Ill.; and Shelia Bennett of Murphysboro, Ill. and Lucille Romay Wagner of Mesa, Arizona; 11 grandchildren: Michael, Melissa, Justin, Laura, Kortney, Matthew, Ricky,Tyler, Nathan, Whitney and Lydia; three step grandchildren; Jennifer, JoBeth and Travis;
24 great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was also preceded in death by: four siblings: Eileen (Walter) Kelly, Jr., Cletus (Pat) Whelan, Leroy Whelan, and Mildred (Oliver) Dehne; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Rosalie Whelan, Roger Kruse, Ruby Glotfelty, Peggy (Harvey) Althoff, Lloyd Romay, Glen Wagner, and Roy Bennett; four nephews and a niece.
He had worked as a mechanic at Luhr Bros, Inc in Columbia, Illinois for many years and worked out of the Operatoring Engineer Local No. 520 in Granite City, Illinois.
He enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
It was Allen’s wishes to be cremated and a memorial service will be held at future date.