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(1921-2017) Allen Y. P. Pang (95), of Rockford, Illinois passed away peacefully on Friday, February 17, 2017, at his home in Rockford surrounded by family. He was born June 26, 1921 in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, to parents Wah Jim and Sau Han (Chun) Pang. He attended Likelike Elementary, Central Intermediate and McKinley High school in Honolulu. Allen was attending University of Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked and volunteered for duty on the afternoon of Dec 7, 1941. He was put on guard duty outside of Pearl Harbor for the next 12 months. In December 1942 he started aviation cadet training in Santa Ana, California. He rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant of a Martin B-26 Marauder crew and flew 68 combat missions in the European, Mediterranean, and Pacific Theaters, surviving a crash landing in Corsica on his 61st mission. Allen was awarded several Air Medals and battle stars, and the Presidential and French Croix de Guerre avec Palme unit citations. After his service, he attended and graduated from the University of Iowa. He then began a dental graduate program at Loyola University in Chicago and went to the University of Illinois where he earned a postgraduate degree in pediatric dentistry. While in school at Loyola, he met Catherine A. Parchem, while dating her nursing class alphabetically. She was a student nurse at Wesley Memorial at the time. The two married on September 17, 1949 and moved to Honolulu for a short period. In 1951, they returned to the mainland and settled in Rockford because Catherine missed the change of seasons. The couple enjoyed more than 67 years together traveling, giving back to the community, and celebrating with friends and family. Allen practiced pediatric dentistry in Rockford from 1951 to 1989. After retirement, he did volunteer dentistry work at Crusader Clinic. Allen loved parties with family and friends, gardening, golf, watching sports (particular the Hawkeyes), gin rummy and fishing. He frequently fished in Northern Canada and his favorite fishing trip was to the opening of Great Bear Lake, when the flight attendants thought he was a Playboy photographer instead of a fisherman and gave him special treatment. Allen is survived by his wife Catherine (Kay), daughters Susan (Doug) Hughes, Laura (William) Wheeler, Sarah (Bruce) Munies and grandchildren Christian Kuhn, Ben Hughes, Meaghan Hughes, Jake Wheeler, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by Allen and Kay's beloved son Steven, his parents and brothers James, Richard, Albert, and too many beloved friends. Allen is a member of Court St. Methodist Church, Rockford Country Club and the University Club. He is a life member of the Star in the East Masonic Lodge #166, Freeport Consistory, Jesters, Tebala Shrine Temple, Winnebago County Dental Society, Illinois Dental Society, and the American Dental Association. He was chairman of the committee that built Christ United Methodist Church and served on the boards of Severson Dells, Klehm Arboretum, University Club, Rockford Country Club, Rosecrance Home and Wesley Willows. Allen was also a member of Rotary Club and former member of Knight Templar. He served as treasurer, secretary, vice-president and president of both the Dental Society of the University Club. Allen was the first Asian to be elected as Potentate of the Shrine Temple and was awarded the Forrest Riordan Distinguished Humanitarian Award for Excellence in Medical Service in 2006. He was also the winner of the Dental Society's Service Above Self Award in 2010. Allen served as Chairman of Cosmopolitan Club LPGA golf tournament. He was a member and fellow of the American Academy of Pediodontics and a member of the Society of Dentistry for Children. He was very involved with the University of Iowa, and helped recruit football coaches Bob Commings and Hayden Fry, as well as basketball coach Lute Olsen. Memorial services will be 12:00 noon, Saturday, February 25 at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St.Rockford, IL with Rev. Calvin Culpepper officiating. Visitation prior to the service from 10:00 - 11:45 am in the church. In lieu of flowers, reach out to someone in need or make a new friend today, as Allen did each day. Please consider learning more about the nonprofits that were important to Allen such as; Court St. Methodist Church (215 N Court St, Rockford, IL 61103) and the Shriners Hospital for Children c/o Tebala Shrine Temple (7910 Newburg Rd., Rockford, IL. 61112). To share a memory or online condolence, visit olsonfh.com Burial services will take place at a date to be determined in The National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl Cater, Honolulu, Hawaii. Special thanks to Dr. William Edwards of the Swedish American Regional Cancer Center, Wesley Willows Health and Rehab Center for their skilled and compassionate care and Visiting Nurses Association.
(1921-2017) Allen Y. P. Pang (95), of Rockford, Illinois passed away peacefully on Friday, February 17, 2017, at his home in Rockford surrounded by family. He was born June 26, 1921 in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, to parents Wah Jim and Sau Han (Chun) Pang. He attended Likelike Elementary, Central Intermediate and McKinley High school in Honolulu. Allen was attending University of Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked and volunteered for duty on the afternoon of Dec 7, 1941. He was put on guard duty outside of Pearl Harbor for the next 12 months. In December 1942 he started aviation cadet training in Santa Ana, California. He rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant of a Martin B-26 Marauder crew and flew 68 combat missions in the European, Mediterranean, and Pacific Theaters, surviving a crash landing in Corsica on his 61st mission. Allen was awarded several Air Medals and battle stars, and the Presidential and French Croix de Guerre avec Palme unit citations. After his service, he attended and graduated from the University of Iowa. He then began a dental graduate program at Loyola University in Chicago and went to the University of Illinois where he earned a postgraduate degree in pediatric dentistry. While in school at Loyola, he met Catherine A. Parchem, while dating her nursing class alphabetically. She was a student nurse at Wesley Memorial at the time. The two married on September 17, 1949 and moved to Honolulu for a short period. In 1951, they returned to the mainland and settled in Rockford because Catherine missed the change of seasons. The couple enjoyed more than 67 years together traveling, giving back to the community, and celebrating with friends and family. Allen practiced pediatric dentistry in Rockford from 1951 to 1989. After retirement, he did volunteer dentistry work at Crusader Clinic. Allen loved parties with family and friends, gardening, golf, watching sports (particular the Hawkeyes), gin rummy and fishing. He frequently fished in Northern Canada and his favorite fishing trip was to the opening of Great Bear Lake, when the flight attendants thought he was a Playboy photographer instead of a fisherman and gave him special treatment. Allen is survived by his wife Catherine (Kay), daughters Susan (Doug) Hughes, Laura (William) Wheeler, Sarah (Bruce) Munies and grandchildren Christian Kuhn, Ben Hughes, Meaghan Hughes, Jake Wheeler, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by Allen and Kay's beloved son Steven, his parents and brothers James, Richard, Albert, and too many beloved friends. Allen is a member of Court St. Methodist Church, Rockford Country Club and the University Club. He is a life member of the Star in the East Masonic Lodge #166, Freeport Consistory, Jesters, Tebala Shrine Temple, Winnebago County Dental Society, Illinois Dental Society, and the American Dental Association. He was chairman of the committee that built Christ United Methodist Church and served on the boards of Severson Dells, Klehm Arboretum, University Club, Rockford Country Club, Rosecrance Home and Wesley Willows. Allen was also a member of Rotary Club and former member of Knight Templar. He served as treasurer, secretary, vice-president and president of both the Dental Society of the University Club. Allen was the first Asian to be elected as Potentate of the Shrine Temple and was awarded the Forrest Riordan Distinguished Humanitarian Award for Excellence in Medical Service in 2006. He was also the winner of the Dental Society's Service Above Self Award in 2010. Allen served as Chairman of Cosmopolitan Club LPGA golf tournament. He was a member and fellow of the American Academy of Pediodontics and a member of the Society of Dentistry for Children. He was very involved with the University of Iowa, and helped recruit football coaches Bob Commings and Hayden Fry, as well as basketball coach Lute Olsen. Memorial services will be 12:00 noon, Saturday, February 25 at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St.Rockford, IL with Rev. Calvin Culpepper officiating. Visitation prior to the service from 10:00 - 11:45 am in the church. In lieu of flowers, reach out to someone in need or make a new friend today, as Allen did each day. Please consider learning more about the nonprofits that were important to Allen such as; Court St. Methodist Church (215 N Court St, Rockford, IL 61103) and the Shriners Hospital for Children c/o Tebala Shrine Temple (7910 Newburg Rd., Rockford, IL. 61112). To share a memory or online condolence, visit olsonfh.com Burial services will take place at a date to be determined in The National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl Cater, Honolulu, Hawaii. Special thanks to Dr. William Edwards of the Swedish American Regional Cancer Center, Wesley Willows Health and Rehab Center for their skilled and compassionate care and Visiting Nurses Association.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
