Tina Allen, 44, of La Crosse passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
Tina was born Oct. 3, 1973, to Dixie Sowle in Daytona Beach, Fla. She attended high school in Tomah, where she met and married the love of her life. On June 10, 1994, she and Paul Allen were united in marriage and moved to La Crosse, where they raised three wonderful boys, Tyler, Zackery and Connor. Tina always referred to her sons as her handsome boys.
For several years, Tina was employed by Laidlaw Bus Service, working in the office and driving bus, before fighting cancer became a full-time job. Tina had fought it fiercely and bravely since the spring of 2009. Tina was an amazing woman with a grace and strength not seen in many people. She loved her family and always put them first, and even kept fighting the cancer long after many would have quit, because she was worried about her husband, children, grandchildren and family. All she wanted for her family was happiness. She was a caring and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend.
She gave back to the community by volunteering at church events and leading youth groups. Her love of nature and beauty came out in her creative side, which involved crafting, drawing and painting. She loved her fur babies and especially enjoyed her walks with her dog, Bugsy.
She left a positive footprint on those whose lives she touched, and she is greatly missed by her family and friends. Her smile and sparkling brown eyes will forever be etched in their hearts.
Tina is survived by her husband, Paul of La Crosse; three sons, Tyler Tupper of Lebanon, Mo., and his four children, Adrian, Chase, Ka’liyah, and Jameson, Zackery (Jordan Hutschenreuter) Allen of Waterloo, Iowa, and Connor Allen of La Crosse; her parents, Dixie and Dean Sowle of Viroqua; a sister, Anne (Kevin) Klump of Ringle, Wis.; two brothers, Dominic (Alisha) Sowle and Donny (Jessica) Sowle, both of Viroqua; a younger cousin who was like a sister, Christina Flietner Morgan; along with many, many other loving family members and friends.
Tina was preceded in death by her grandparents, Minnie Rickert, William Rickert and Howard and Marjorie Sowle.
Funeral services will be at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the Torkelson Funeral Home, 720 Madison St., Ontario. Pastor Clyde Ewers will officiate. Burial will follow at the Hilltop Rest Cemetery in Ontario. Family and friends are invited for visitation Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of service. The Torkelson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
