Veda E. Van Allen

RACINE - Veda E. Van Allen, age 92, passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2017, in the presence of loved ones, after a short illness. She was born on December 1, 1924 in Stevens Point. Veda was the daughter of the late Mabel I. (Newby) and Elmer T. Eskritt. Veda met her future husband, Curtis Van Allen, in 1946, at the Casino dance hall in Waupaca where he played the trumpet in a band.  He courted her by private airplane and they married in 1947. They enjoyed 67 fascinating years together until he passed away on January 21, 2015. Veda graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and taught several grades in a one-room schoolhouse before marrying and moving to Chicago.  The young family later moved to Racine.  Veda was a lover of words and a writer of letters.  She had a sly wit, loved to laugh, and was outspoken.  She was loving and selfless to the core, caring for her daughter Jacci, disabled in a car accident at age 16, for 44 years.  Veda traveled widely and lived abroad.  She swam laps well into middle age and enjoyed occasional outings to the Racine quarry with her best friend, Nancy Stark. Veda embraced the changing world, taking up computers when she was in her 80's.  She loved to garden, watch the major tennis tournaments on TV, and harmonize to songs on the radio.   She had a keen interest in politics.  Most of all she was a storyteller, famous for her tales of growing up on a farm, which she considered the best upbringing anyone could have. Veda is survived and will be greatly missed by her son Curtis Van Allen II (“Skip”) of Sussex; daughters Janice Olson of Sioux City, IA, Nancy Van Allen of Plymouth, MI, Peggy (Lance) Anderson of Bloomer, and Jacalyn Van Allen of Burlington; grandchildren Brock and Shane Peterson, Devon (Anthony) Bell, Alyssa (Ash) Venable, Alec Venable, Kyle, Tyler and Madison Van Allen; great-granddaughter Alexa Derby; also nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.  Veda was preceded in death by her brothers Harry, Arlene, and Irven, and sisters Sylvia and Lucille. A private graveside service was held in Plover, WI. on August 11th. Online condolences at www.draeger-langendorf.com