Ronald E. Allsopp

Ronald Eugene Soup Allsopp After a valiant fight with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Ronald Eugene Soup Allsopp was called to home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ at 11:23 pm on December 13th 2009 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Ron was surrounded by his loving wife and two sons at his passing. For the past 10 years, Ron fought Lymphoma bravely and without reservation to be a model for others to fight and fight hard. Born to Lena and John Allsopp in Herrin Hospital March 31, 1939, Ron was an only child of John and Lena and went on in life to create a wonderful family. He met Antonette Aloffo in junior high school and recently celebrated 50 years of marriage to her on July 4th 2009. In junior high school, he was a top five basketball player and played football in high school but his true joy was cars and cruising with Philip Sollami on Park Avenue. As a young man out of high school, he worked as a bagger and checker in Herrins A&P for several years. Ron next worked at Norge Home Laundry Equipment Plant in shipping and receiving. At the same time Ron worked at East Side Lumber so as to never deny his family any needs at a time where jobs were scarce and pay was meager. Ron worked for the city of Herrin for several mayors and specifically with Marlene Simpson for seven years and Marlene became a lifelong friend. Marlenes sweet nature, friendship, and help she provided in her role as city clerk to her friends Ron and Antonette over the years, lead to a loyal friendship which equated to being one of the family. Ron worked in the water and sewer departments to ensure citizens of Herrin seamless services day or night, rain or snow. For many years, Ron worked in one of the most dangerous jobs in the coal mines as a union roof bolter and nearly lost his life contributed to roof falls. With the closure of Old Ben 21 coal mines, Ron became a business entrepreneur and leased Chevies lounge with his son John. Rons work ethic was well translated to his sons and made a huge success out of Ron and Johns Chevies by transforming a neighborhood bar into a family centric environment where one could go and have a great drink and homemade Italian beef sandwich. Ron did not allow trouble in his tavern and fostered a fun loving place for many to enjoy for the past 21 years. Rons experiences in the coal mines drove his son Jim to become a Safety Engineer and protect workers in all industries based on the risks he personally experienced every night 700 feet below ground. Once again Rons tireless work ethic lead to him opening a restaurant with his wife for many years while still mining coal. Ron was best known at the restaurant for the delicious Italian breads and red sauce he perfected and has yet to be duplicated. Rons is best known for his honesty, integrity, giving ways and cowboy lifestyle. Ron helped those less fortunate in any way he could and for that reason he has friends for eternity. His quick wit and fun loving spirit equated into friendships with all. Ron satisfied his cowboy persona by clearing 30 acres of brush and created a beautiful farm for cattle and horses in Crenshaw. Ron was a devout Catholic and a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Elks club and Herrin Eagles. Survivors include his wife Antonette, his two sons John and James, Audrey his daughter-in-law, two beautiful grandchildren Marlo and Andrew. Ron was Godparent to nephew Ben Bouse. He is also survived by a loving sister-in-law Mary Snider who called everyday to check on him, Debbie and Jim Bouse, nephew William Bouse, cousins, nieces and nephews. A very special thank you goes out to all his caregivers, Jimmy Vigiano for providing many months of transportation to cancer treatment for in St. Louis and his love of Ron. Thank you to Keith Camarato for his consistent love and befriending of Ron in his life and business and Sally Hollands family for taking care of Ron and Antonettes farm and catering during times of illness where they were unable. Sincere appreciation to John Pearsley and Meresa Monteith for administering all aspects of Rons wishes for Chevies Lounge. Ron is preceded in death by his mother Lena and father John. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin with Monsignor Ken Schaefer officiating. Burial will follow at San Carlo Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00am until time of service on Saturday at the funeral home. For more information, or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com. For those who prefer, memorial gifts may be made to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society to help research in a cure for this disease. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Donor Services P.O. Box 4072 Pittsfield, MA 01202 Or on the web at https://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_donate?item_id=8072