Memorial
Allen Marcus Taylor Jr., 70, died June 16, 2024, at his home in Marion, Iowa, following a long illness.
A devoted husband and loving father, Allen was born Aug. 6, 1953 in Milwaukee, Wis. He spent much of his childhood raising mischief with friends there, and with cousins in Cedar Rapids during the summer. Following high school, he attended college in Wisconsin and Colorado before learning Arabic and working as an English tutor.
Ever the adventurous spirit and inquisitive mind, in 1975, Allen found himself in Beirut, teaching through the eruption of the Lebanese Civil War. He remained there through December before decamping to Cairo to study Arabic, later heading to London. By late 1976, he was back in the Middle East, teaching his native tongue to soldiers in Isfahan, Iran, where he later helped students from all backgrounds.
Still unheard in the West, rumbling of a coming Islamic Revolution grew louder by late 1977, prompting Allen to leave Iran and return to Milwaukee. Later, he started anew in Cedar Rapids. There, he met Linda Gollaher, whom he married in 1982 and helped raise their son, Jared.
Allen pursued a career in the export business. He held several titles over the next quarter century, his last being director of international operations at Kwik-Way in Marion. He traveled extensively throughout Latin America, cultivating business relationships across the region and around the world.
His passions included spending time outdoors as an avid hunter and fisherman, catching and releasing smallmouth bass along the Wapsipinicon River. Among many notable game fish, perhaps his most memorable catch was hardly that — a 17 pound sucker landed at the mouth of Crow Creek that garnered an Iowa Angling Award in 1989. Rivaling his love of the outdoors was his fandom of the Green Bay Packers, a devotion shared with his father that he passed along to his son.
For decades, Allen — a founding River Rangers member and the unofficial “Mayor of Stone City” — loved spending weekends at his cabin along the Wapsi, where he would relax with family and friends, even into his final days. His laugh will be missed.
Survivors include his wife, Linda, and son, Jared, of Marion; his stepmother, Marilyn Taylor (David Scheler) of Madison, Wis.; stepbrother, Reed (Jessica) Taylor of Pittsburgh, Pa.; siblings-in-law Susan and Russ McDowell of Fayetteville, Ga.; Edward Gollaher of Fort Collins, Colo.; nieces, nephews and extended family. Preceding him in death include his father, Allen Taylor Sr. of Milwaukee; sister, Melanie Taylor of Nashville, Tenn.; his mother- and father-in-law, Margaret and Max Gollaher of Marion; brother-in-law Larry Gollaher of Marion; and other relatives.
A celebration of life is scheduled from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 23 at the General Store in Stone City. Burial at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion will follow at a later date. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.