Allen P. Nemetz

Allen Paul Nemetz, a gifted wood craftsman, devoted husband, beloved father, grandfather, and lifelong lover of nature, passed away late on the first day of spring, March 20, 2026, in Southbury, Connecticut. He was 85.

Born on October 2, 1940, in Elmhurst, Illinois, to Albert Nemetz and Bernice (Miller) Nemetz, Allen developed an early love for nature. He especially loved the Morton Arboretum, where he explored as a child and later with his own children, David and Lauri.

He met his beloved wife, Pam, through friends at Valparaiso University in Indiana, where he earned an engineering degree. They moved early on to Michigan, and then back to the Chicago area for nearly a decade. In 1980, the family moved to Brookfield, Connecticut, for Allen's continuing work at Amphenol (an electronic connector manufacturing company), and then to PIC design, where he eventually served as President and CEO. Allen and Pam remained in Brookfield, CT, for over forty years until moving recently to Southbury, CT. Church and faith were important parts of his life, and he served on many committees and was particularly involved at Faith Lutheran Church during their time in IL and at Prince of Peace in Brookfield, CT.

Early family vacations often centered around road trips and National Wildlife Federation summits, which provided classes in wildlife identification and opportunities to hike and listen to community music. History also captured his attention, from an early interest in the Civil War to a later interest in Shaker craftsmanship. Allen loved to travel whenever possible for work, visiting Italy, Hong Kong, and, later with Pam, France, England, Japan, Germany, and more. He enjoyed many years of frequent visits between CT and NY with his daughter's family and yearly trips with them to St. Andrews, NB (Canada), and near-yearly returns to the Midwest to be with his son's family.

During his entire time in CT, Allen became deeply involved in the local craft community, studying and later volunteering at the Brookfield Craft Center, where he shared his knowledge by demonstrating techniques and mentoring others. Allen explored a wide range of creative disciplines, from photography to stained glass, before discovering his true calling with wood, which was inspired in part by his grandfather, a cabinetmaker. In 1986, he joined the Nutmeg Chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, and in 2001, he became a member of the International Wood Collectors Society, reflecting his passion for beautiful woods from around the globe. His own woodwork began with decoy carvings and later focused on his turned wooden bowls. He created "Featherworks" as his name for his work, which he sold at several venues and often gave as gifts. He was honored in 2025 by the Nutmeg Wood Turners League for lifetime achievement.

Allen is survived by his loving wife, Pamela Nemetz; his son, David Nemetz (and David's daughter, Brooklyn), and his daughter, Lauri Nemetz (spouse, Eric Feinstein, and their sons, Benjamin and Caleb). He will be remembered for his strong work ethic and craftsmanship. Even until the end of his life, Allen retained his love for birds and often turned the pages of a favorite bird book he kept with him.

A service will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, opening with a 10 a.m. gathering with family and friends, followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service, then a brief burial of ashes and a reception with light food at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 119 Junction Road, Brookfield, CT 06804.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one's choice, such as Alzheimer's Disease Research (Bright Focus Foundation at brightfocus.org/stopAD) or a donation to Prince of Peace.