MADISON - Gail Susan Allen, age 61, passed away peacefully on Dec. 30, 2021, with her family by her side. She had lived with cancer for several years.

Gail was born on July 27, 1960, and raised on the west side of Madison, Wis., by her mother, Mary Ann (née Roberts) Allen. She graduated from James Madison Memorial High School in 1978 and earned a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At UW, she made lifelong friends as a varsity rowing letter winner and fell in love with her future husband, Jeff Hoerning. She chose to plant her own roots in Madison, and built her life on a foundation of family, friends and laughter. Gail married Jeff in 1988, and together they worked hard to give their two children a wonderful childhood.

Motherhood was Gail's greatest joy and greatest strength, and she created and nurtured a close-knit, loving family. She strengthened family bonds with nightly family dinners, ski trips to Colorado and long hikes along Lake Mendota. Gail was also an adventurer, full of energy and fun. She swam, skied and biked, sometimes all in one day. Her enthusiasm and kindness brought people together, often at the family's cabin in Hayward, Wis. Gail's compassionate nature and youthful spirit earned her many close friendships. Dubbed a "downhill wizard" for her mountain biking skills, Gail often shouted "Yahoooooo" as she flew down the trail with a huge smile.

After graduating and working for several years as a consultant and engineer, Gail returned to UW to pursue a career in medicine. She completed medical school and residency at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where she helped create a part-time residency program that allowed her to spend more time with her kids. She joined the UW faculty in 1998 and practiced as a general pediatrician at the UW Health West Clinic for 20 years. In the last four years of her career, Gail served as Clinical Chief of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, diligently working to advance quality of care and community-based health initiatives. She was most proud of providing high quality medical care for challenging, high-risk patients. Gail cared deeply for the well-being of children and made a positive impact on the lives of many.

Gail is survived by her husband, Jeff; and their children, Steven and Elizabeth Hoerning; as well as her sisters, Jane Allen and Ann Dee Allen. She is further survived by her nieces, nephews, in-laws and many friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ann; and stepfather, William Ackermann. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kids Forward at www.kidsforward.org/make-a-donation.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. The service will take place at the UW PYLE CENTER at 702 Langdon Street in Madison, Wis., in the Alumni Lounge. Attendees are asked to be fully vaccinated and wear masks. Additional details and information on viewing the service via livestream can be found at www.cressfuneralservice.com.

Gail's family is very grateful for the outstanding care she received at the UW Carbone Cancer Center and from the staff at Agrace Hospice at the end of her life.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434

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Published by Madison.com on Jan. 9, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Gail Allen

Sponsored by Cress Funeral & Cremation Service - Madison West.

8 Entries

Shyelle Aikens

September 18, 2023

Dr. Allen was one of the greatest. She cared for us (her patients) so much and I will always have a deep gratitude for her. Thank you Dr. Allen for being the caring, nurturing, patient advocate you were for me and my family, I´m glad I got to express how much we loved you while you were here. Condolences to your family.

Christine richards

January 3, 2023

Gail cared deeply and was loved by those she worked with. Anniversaries are always hard, but I hope your memories of happy times together bring you comfort.
Working with Gail was a true joy and I miss her.
Christine

Dr Phillip Dibble

January 26, 2022

GAIL, I´ve known you sine you were5, Kristin´s close friend for 57 years. You left us too soon. I´m sorry for your suffering and proud of how you bore it. I pray we meet again!

Kathy Sauer and Holley Gugel

January 16, 2022

Holly and I are both nurses who worked with Gail in Middleton. She was always a delight to be around and a wonderful professional and compassionate pediatrician. She also was my daughter´s doctor during some challenging teen years... I even remember her making a house call one day, as she was struggling with some depression issues. She was a wonderful woman and was a blessing to many. We are sorry for your loss. We have made a donation to Kids Forward in her name.

GPAM Colleagues

Sent Flowers

Katie

January 9, 2022

Extending my condolences and love to Gail's family during this especially difficult time. I hope Gail can rest easy knowing that her loving family will carry her memory and legacy with them always.

Sheila Harrington Johnson

January 9, 2022

This is so, so sad for me to hear. Gail was such a smart, kind, fun-loving person, and one of the people from my high school class I always wished I had been better friends with . It sounds as though she lived a wonderful, rich, productive and love-filled life- blessed be for that.

The Staff of Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

January 9, 2022

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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