Allen Eugene Hunter
Allen Eugene Hunter passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 12:15 pm at Blessing Hospital in Quincy Illinois. He was 89 years young. Al lost his wife of 67 years, Marilyn Hunter just 39 days ago. The following obituary was written by the only person on earth qualified to tell his story, Al Hunter in his own words written on March 23, 2011.
Allen E. Hunter age 100 of 412 Carol Drive, Quincy Illinois died at 12 noon Friday the 19th of January in his home (while playing the tuba).
Allen was the son of Allen Joseph Hunter and Letty Bixby Hunter. He is proceeded in death by his father, mother, and younger brother Joseph Richard Hunter.
He married Marilyn Belker on June 5th 1948 and they had one daughter Linda Ellen Neumann. Allen was a member of St. Peters Parish in Quincy Illinois. He graduated from Quincy High School in 1945. He then enlisted in the United States Navy. He was sent to the Navy School of Music and served in the Navy as a Musician. Upon completion of his military service he attended the Conn Vocational School of Musical Instrument Repair in Elkhart Indiana. This led to a brief business venture as a Musical Instrument Repairman. His aspiration then was to pursue a college degree in Music Education.
He graduated from Quincy College with a degree in Music Education in 1959. He then accepted a teaching position in its Community Unit#1 Payson School District, and retired from there in1988 after 30 years of service. A Masters Degree in Music from the University of Illinois was completed in 1963. Additional education was received at Western Illinois University, Drury University and Denver University.
Upon retiring from Payson he had the good fortune to join Pam Potter and Dan Sherman in the Quincy PMO Music Program.
He felt blessed to have a wonderful life sharing his life experiences in music with young people. He loved kids and felt blessed to be a part of the Payson and Quincy PMO music programs and communities.
As a musician he had the good fortune to have performed with many music organizations and musicians and enjoyed the good memories and good times. His interests also extend to sports, nature, travel, and the arts.
Most prevalent he loved his immediate family and extended families. Nothing could surpass those cherished memories of family.
Survivors include his daughter Linda Ellen Neumann and son-in-law Don Dollens, Grandson Chad Neumann and his four children Blaine, Blake, Kayla, and Bailey. Also, Grandson Matthew Neumann, and his wife Molly and two children Gracie and Daniel.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 1:30 in the Church of St. Peter by the Rev. Tom Donovan. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held at St. Peter Church on Monday from 12:30 until the time of the services. Memorials may be made to the Seymour Foundation Allen Hunter Music Scholarship Fund, the PMO Music Department, or the Alzheimer’s Association
We were saddened to learn that Mr. Hunter is now a first chair in heaven’s band. What a gifted man and an inspiration to all his students. Payson was blessed to have him for a while and he is missed.
So sorry to hear about Mr. Hunter. Two of our children had him in band at Payson. He was a great teacher and musician.
I was saddened to hear the news of Mr. Hunter’s passing. He was a great man and he will be missed.
I have a lot of great memories of him. He taught me to play percussion. My favorite memory of him was how he played the trumpet “Gonna Fly Now” man he could get up there.I was so proud to know that Payson had the music teacher around. There hasn’t been any greater since. He will be missed. Now he is playing in the heavenly band. We will miss you.
Dear Linda, Chad, Matthew and families,
We are sad that you have lost your parents as you begin 2016. They were both special people.
Dick was happy to have had Allen as a QHS classmate. We always admired his musical talents and the great career he had at Payson. We wish morepeople could have benefitted from his special attention.
God’s Blessings and best wishes.
I was so sad to hear of Mr Hunter’s passing. He was my band teacher at Payson, although I wasn’t the best he was one of the BEST teachers I ever had. I so enjoyed band because of him. and still when I should see him around he remembered me and we shared laughs. R.I.P. Mr Hunter you were a wonderful man and will always be remembered.
What a dedicated musician and educator! He was an inspiration to teachers of all subjects.
Al was one of those musicians who I got the pleasure of hearing while playing in the Quincy Park Band and the Mississippi River Brass Band. He was able to play with style and musicality. It was always a beautiful performance.
It saddened my day when I heard the news that “Mr.Hunter” had passed away. In short, What a Wonderful, Kind, Courteous and Considerate Leader of a Man. Mr. Hunter was “The Music” at Seymour H.S.. He brought symphony concert quality to the area while also having the BEST PEP BANDS I have ever heard to this day. Boy, could he ever blow that Trumpet! He was the best at what he truly loved, music. I fondly remember the musicals we used to have at Seymour and of course our Maestro Mr. Hunter was on the platform waving his wand. He was very detailed even down to how he wanted the Indian mascot to dance in Marching Band. I remember as I was that Mascot. As I write this I can still hear the drum line “Da; Da; Da; Da Da Da! He expected excellence, however received it from his students with encouragement and persistence. Mr. Hunter will be truly missed.
Allen was a wonderful person, teacher and musician. I always enjoyed sitting next to him in the park band. He told me stories about playing in bands with my Grandfather when they were younger. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
So sad to hear this. He was a great guy, and I enjoyed my years of teaching with him at Payson.