Ethel Anne Allen (Persons)

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Ethel's Livestream Service will begin at 11:30 a.m.CT on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on “Watch Now.”

MADISON - Ethel Anne Allen (Persons) passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on December 5, 2025.

Ethel Anne was born on January 6, 1939, to Donald and Harriet (Runey) Persons in Madison, Wis. Ethel was the firstborn, and was joined by three brothers - Joseph, David and Kent. The Persons family lived in Evansville, Wis., where Ethel graduated from high school in 1957.

After graduation, Ethel moved to the big city - Madison. It was during this time that she met and fell in love with George Allen. They married in 1961. They purchased a home in Madison, near Monona Bay, on Emerald Street. They had five children - Barbara (died shortly after birth), Harriet, Emily, Rosemarie and Donald. In April of 1974, George suffered two heart attacks. He died on April 30, 1974.  

When Ethel's kids were still young, she and her family participated in church and youth activities for many years at The Salvation Army. In 1980, Ethel found a home at Shalom Christian Center (later known as New Life Christian Center). There, she enjoyed worshiping the Lord through dance and song to the rhythm of her tambourine, usually dressed in her favorite purple dress.

In 2009, Ethel went on an Alaskan cruise with her son, Donald. More recently, they went to the Black Hills in South Dakota. Ethel had fun picking up souvenirs at Wall Drug.

Due to some health challenges, in 2017 Ethel became a resident at St. Mary’s Care Center (now Complete Care at Maple Grove) Nursing Home. Ethel was well known for her smile, hugs, advocating for others, and most recently, for reading to her friend, Kathy. During the week before she passed, as her health was failing, staff and residents came by to say their goodbyes. They shared many stories of how she had touched their lives. On the morning of her passing, staff and residents held a procession, with more stories and songs. She was dressed in her favorite purple worship dress, as was her final wish for heading to her eternal home, and covered in a fuzzy purple cat blanket.

Ethel loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus, spending time with her family, reading books, snuggling cats, making and eating buttered popcorn, giving and receiving hugs, going to the movie theatre to watch Marvel movies, celebrating her Irish heritage with family gatherings on St. Patrick’s Day, and looking for bargains at thrift shops.

Ethel is survived by her brothers, Joseph (Carol) Persons and Kent Persons; sister-in-law, Sandy Persons; her children, Harriet Allen, Emily (Tom) Landmann, Rosemarie E. Bois and Donald Allen; her grandkids, Jacob Bois, Victor Gear and Henry Landmann; and many cousins and second cousins.

Ethel was preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara; parents, Donald and Harriet (Runey) Persons; her husband, George Allen; and brother, David Persons.

A memorial service for Ethel will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Burial will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

The family would like to express our thanks for the kindness and care given over the years by staff at Access Community Clinic, St. Mary’s Care Center (Complete Care at Maple Grove), St. Mary’s Hospital, University of Wisconsin Hospital, St. Mary’s Adult Day Center, South Madison Coalition for the Elderly, and SSM Health Hospice Services.  

We will miss her love every day.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420