James "Rusty" Allen

James R. "Rusty" Allen, 60, of Pontiac, formerly of El Paso
passed away

Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 1:39 a.m. at the OSF Richard L.
Owens

Hospice Home, Peoria after a courageous battle with cancer.



Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 11,
2013 at

the First Lutheran Church, Pontiac, Pastor Heidi Punt and Pastor
Mark

Knappe will officiate. Burial will be in Southside Cemetery,
Pontiac.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 3 to 7 at First Lutheran
Church,

Pontiac. Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, El Paso is assisting the
family

with arrangements.



Rusty was born August 1, 1953 in Austin, TX a son of Larry B.
and

Annabelle Webb Johnson Allen. He and his parents moved to Chenoa
and

later El Paso. He married Maribeth O'Connell in Pontiac. She
survives.

Other survivors include his daughter, Kelly (Ed) Faulk and his
son
Jacon Allen, both of El Paso; step children, Melanie Brinkman,
Pontiac,

Blake (Shelly) Brinkman, Pontiac, Noah Brinkman, Garden City,
KS,

Taylor (Stephanie) Brinkman, Silverdale,WA; grandchildren,
Kayla,

Ethan, Athena, Skyler, Kailey, Keegan, Adilyn, and Rosemary; a
sister,

Peggy (Charlie) Straight, Beardstown,WI.



He was preceded in death by his parents.



Rusty worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections at
Pontiac

prison until his retirement in 2003. Rusty was a dedicated member
of

the El Paso Rescue Squad with over 35 years of service. He was
employed

by the Danville Area Community College following his retirement as
a

CPR instructor.



Rusty was a lifelong fan of dirt track racing, and began helping
Jack

Tyne of Streator in the 1970's. He continued helping Jack for
many

years until he bought and raced his own car. He raced many tracks
in

Illinois his favorite being Fairbury American Legion Speedway,
where he

won the 6 cylinder track championship in 1988. Rusty quit racing
in

1991, then worked at Fairbury Speedway as an official and
eventually

becoming the track promoter. Under his leadership Fairbury
American

Legion Speedway received UMP track of the Year for 2 consecutive
years.



In lieu of flowers memorials contributions may be directed to
First

Lutheran Church, Pontiac or OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home,
Peoria.

Rusty's memorial video may be viewed and online condolences may be
sent

to his family at ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

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