Allen Harrison Luce, age 91, passed away on October 14, 2010 at Parkview Health Care Center. Allen was born August 10, 1919 in Highbridge, Wisconsin. The eldest son of Elliott and Ruth (Repe) Luce. Allen moved to New York as a child and then to Winneconne. Allen married Mary Loretta Bretney on July 28, 1945 and celebrated 65 years of marriage. They resided in Winneconne their entire married life, she survives. Allen is survived by two brothers, Charles (Delores) Luce, Winneconne, WI & Chester (Rose Ann) Luce, Appleton, WI. Allen is further survived by their five children: Loretta (James) Cizek, Cummings, GA; Roger (Jayne) Luce, Rothschild, WI; Beth (Thomas) Beiser, William (Linda) Luce and James (Elizabeth) Luce, all of Winneconne, WI. Allen is also survived by his grandchildren: Jenny Cizek (Jeff's wife), Colleen Beiser, Suzanne (David) Little, Aaron (Shaune) Luce, Elliott Luce, Travis (Catherine) Luce, Melissa (Henry) Mitchell, John (Crystal) Luce, Andrew Beiser, Brian Luce, Patrick Luce & Paul Luce. He is further survived by his great grandchildren: Allison and Brady Cizek, Ashley Beiser-Hopperditzel, Austin and Nicholas Little, Jordan and Mason Luce, Dominic Luce, Grace Mitchell, Jackson Luce and Lydia Luce. Allen was preceded in death by siblings: Francelia (Clarence) Hintz, William E. Luce (killed in WWII), Ruth Ann Zahn, Donald (Mary) Luce and Nona (Richard) Blank. He was also preceded in death by his two grandchildren: Jeffrey Cizek and Jillian Mary Beiser. Allen was a member of the Amvets and VFW. We, as a family, wish to pay tribute to the sacrifices Allen endured in World War II for 4 ½ years serving his country. Allen volunteered for service in August of 1940 at the age of 21. Allen had basic training at Fort Bragg, NC where he was assigned to the 9th Division, 60th Infantry, Company M. Allen left the U.S. on October 13th, 1942, as a part of the largest military convoy to ever cross the Atlantic landing in Africa. They took Port Lyautey, then the airport as part of the largest military convoy to campaign against General Romme. Fighting continued through 2,000 to 3,000 foot mountains, taking them through Maknassy-McFadden Pass & the Kasserine Pass in Southern Tunisia. From there they continued on through the mountains to Bizerte, the last point of German resistance in North Africa. They then had a short break in Magenta, Algeria where they were visited by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martha Ray. Fighting continued in Palermo, Sicily, almost freezing to death in the high mountains, and on to Messina fighting the Germans – one end of Sicily to the other. They left for Liverpool, England on November 11, 1944, then transported by trucks to Bushfield Barracks near Winchester, England. From there they were transported to a staging area on April 6th, 1944, and left for Normandy Invasion, landing at Utah Beach, D Day +4, June 6, 1944. They fought north on June 18th cut the Cherbourg Peninsula, continuing toward Paris, France, and then Belgium. Allen was internally wounded in northern France near the Belgium border on Sept. 9, 1944 by a railroad gun shell. He was taken to a field hospital, then on to a hospital in Cherbourg, France, where he was kept for a month. Upon release from the hospital he was transported by the hospital ship St. Olaf to Charleston, SC, and from there flown to Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek, MI, where he was treated for 4 ½ months. Allen was medically discharged on March 4, 1945. Allen battled through the seas, sand, mountains, hedgerows, swamps, and forests, carrying heavy weapons and ammunition, while dirty, often soaking wet, encountering sand fleas, bitter cold, and extreme heat. His battalion was bombed and shot at by "friendly fire", had insufficient weapons and small food rations. He stepped over dead and dying, many of those being buddies. He still had nightmares, and often became so emotional when talked about his experiences, that he could not continue. These, of course, are just a sampling of his experiences.

The family would like to thank all the staff from Park View Health Care Center, Prairieside South for the wonderful care they provided Allen in his final days.

A tribute to Allen's life will be celebrated with a family gathering.


Fox Cities Funeral & Cremation Services
3026 Jackson Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 966-9000
www.foxcitiesfuneral.com