John Allen, age 79, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025, at Northside Hospital Forsyth, surrounded by his family.

Born in Schenectady, New York, John lived a life defined by service, family, and enjoying life to the fullest.  He proudly served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, where he flew F-4 Phantom fighter jets as a flight instructor, trained with the Blue Angels, and was on a team to revamp the WWII-era Top Gun curriculum to the jet age.  As his family grew, John transitioned into civilian life and went on to build a successful lifelong career in sales, specializing in cutting-edge medical diagnostic equipment.

John was many things: a lover of music (live was his favorite!), an avid golfer, a master on the grill, and unquestionably the life of any party. He had a commanding presence paired with a heart of gold—a strong patriarch who was also a big softie at his core. Though he was a devoted husband, father, and friend to many, his favorite title of all was “Papa”.  He adored his grandchildren.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn Allen; his son, Michael Allen, and daughter-in-law Edie Allen; his daughters, Kristin Schlinkert and son-in-law Mark Schlinkert, and Christina Deese; and his cherished grandchildren, Jacob Freel and wife Erin Freel, April Schlinkert, and Curt Allen, along with his best buddy, ZiZi the dog.

John was surrounded by family when he peacefully took his final breath—a fitting farewell for a man who treasured togetherness above all else.

In keeping with John’s wishes, there will be no formal service. A celebration of life will be held in the near future. After all, John wasn’t a fan of funerals—but he sure loved a good party!

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Tunnel 2 Towers (T2T.org) would be wonderful, as he was a regular contributor.

Georgia Cremation Duluth is assisting the family with arrangements.