Elizabeth Allen

Elizabeth “Liz” Wilkinson Allen, 58, of East Peoria, completed her temporary sojourn on this Earth into the arms of her all-knowing, loving, gracious Savior, at 8 p.m. Thursday, January 2, 2025.  

Liz loved God in spirit and truth and completely trusted in His perfect, sovereign will during her long battle with a rare and aggressive cancer. She spent her final days longing and rejoicing that her suffering would be exchanged for Glory, the corruptible for incorruptible, the temporal for eternal. Her final hours were spent in Scripture, hymns and prayer. 

Liz was born July 3, 1966 in Chicago to Edgar and Ann (Ottenheimer) Wilkinson and grew up in Highland Park, IL. She married David Allen on October 16, 1993 in Glen Ellyn, IL and he survives.  They met when journalists at the Peoria Journal Star.  

Surviving are sister Melissa Wilkinson Pletcher (Matthew), nephews Miles Harrison Pletcher (born 2002), Charles Andrew Pletcher (2005) and dog nephew Stanley Zeus Pletcher (2015), all of Round Lake, IL. Liz dearly loved Miles and Charlie and prayed for them nightly. She is also survived by several cousins.  

Her parents, grandmother Verna Belle Duncan Wilkinson and aunt Sue Ottenheimer Frumkin preceded her in death. 

Liz graduated from Ohio University and became an award-winning photo journalist and the first female staff photographer at the Joliet Herald-News, where she worked 18 years. She worked for newspapers in Jacksonville, FL, Peoria, Chicago, St. Charles, IL and Joliet for 32 years. A career highlight was a special section on Joliet area centenarians, which featured portraits by Liz.  

Liz loved being a student and group leader with Bible Study Fellowship. She enjoyed the friends she met through it and cherished that time studying the Bible and growing in her walk with the Lord.  

Liz enjoyed gardening, watching old movies with Dave and the house bunnies they had: Elmer, Oliver and Rupert (not at the same time).  

Liz and Dave are members of New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw, IL and greatly appreciate the wonderful support they have received from their church family. Liz and Dave cherished and supported each other through career changes and health challenges. But more than anything, they loved the Lord and desired to glorify Him.  

Liz believed in the substitutionary death and resurrection of her Savior Jesus Christ, and wishes for her friends, family and loved ones to rejoice in that at this time.  

Her visitation will be from 5 to 7 pm Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Tremont. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Tremont. 

Memorials may be made to New Castle Bible Church.

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