Allen Kent

Allen Kent was one of 3 boys, just 5 years apart, and grew up on the Northwest side of Chicago until the family moved to Bartlett, IL in 1950. Bartlett was a farm town back then and their father Robert decided the boys would raise chickens, a lot of chickens! Allen graduated Elgin High School in 1956 and was well known for playing coronet in the band, a competitive swimmer, and a budding artist. He started his college days at Graceland University in Lamoni, IA and received an associates degree, then transferred to U of I in Champaign, graduating with a bachelors in Fine Arts and a minor is sociology. He then went to study art under Leo Marchutz in Aix en Provence, France. Upon returning to Chicago he moved in with a friend and started doing photography work for his father's State Farm Agency, but was soon drafted into the Army, stationed at Ft Lee Virginia, and later in South Korea. While home on leave, he met Laurel Stoddard and they later married in Washington DC, and their first child, Elizabeth was born in South Korea. After being discharged from the Army, they moved to Independence, Excelsior Springs, Warrensburg, and Malden, MO, eventually settling back in Bartlett, IL with 4 children. Allen liked trying new things and created tree sculptures, organic farming, and photography while working on a Masters Degree at NIU. After divorcing, Allen continued working for his Father until retiring and moving in with his life partner Vanno Khousakoun in Elgin. Allen decided to spend his retirement in the Lao Community as a photographer and later ministering to homeless people by becoming homeless himself, and later opening his apartment to those in need of shelter. For the last few years Allen has been supported by his loving family with health challenges at Alden-Long Grove.

Allen was the loving father of: Elizabeth Ford, John Kent, Michael Kent and Mary Anne Kristan.
Dear grandfather of: Katalina St. Ives, Alex Ford, Caroline Ford, Andrew Ford, Ciara Rheul, Kayla Kent, Grace Kent, Jayna Kent ,Michael Clark Kent, Madi Mastey, and Adam Kent,Michael Landon Kent , Laurel Madison Kent ,Milo Ronan Kent Vermillion, Faye Shirley Kent, Taylor Kristan, Jordan Gilley, Layne Kristan, and Chase Kristan
Great grandfather of:
Carter Massey and Cambria Mastey, Annabelle Duhart, Trenton Gilley
Fond brother of:
Robert C. Kent and David W. Kent