GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. – Allen J. Tozier, died June 20, 2011, after a long, brave battle with mantle-cell lymphoma. He was born July 16, 1942, in Bangor.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Bonnie; his three children, Scott and Tracey Tozier, Chris and Melissa Tozier, and Elizabeth and Ken Matlack; his four grandchildren, Fiona and Ben Tozier, Kyle and Julia Matlack; his mother, Grace Tozier; and sister, Gloria Adams.
He worked many years for Great Northern Nekoosa Paper Co., and several more years for Mohawk Paper. He founded Wisconsin Rapids Youth Soccer League with his tireless dedication to youth sports. He was also an accomplished wildlife and bird photographer, appearing in numerous magazines and books. Mostly he will be remembered as a loving father who always found time for his children despite his busy schedule. He never missed a soccer or softball game, a scouting event or graduation.
Thank you for teaching us lessons even when we didn’t want to listen. We heard. Thank you for teaching us hard work is good. Thank you for expecting a lot. Thank you for teaching us how to change the car oil, how to safely use a table saw and how to put graphite on our pinewood derby cars. Thank you for making us responsible for our own situations even when it was hard not to laugh. Thank you for not letting us watch TV or play video games until our eyeballs fell out. Thank you for hiking up mountains with us. We are so blessed to have you to guide and protect us. We will always love you.
A private family service is planned. In lieu of flowers, Allen requested donations to La Posada Scholarship Program, 350 E. Morningside Road, Green Valley, AZ 85614 or 520-648-7910. La Posada is the residence where Allen’s mother lives.