Jordan Michael Allen

JORDAN MICHAEL ALLEN

Cedar Falls

Jordan Michael Allen was a dynamic kind of kid. He led life the way he wanted it and left this earth that way as well. In March of 2017, he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma. He decided that lymphoma wasn't going to define how he lived. He beat the odds that he was up against and was in remission by June. In August, he had a stem cell transplant and looked forward to a long full life. In October, we learned that he relapsed, and this time the cancer was worse. On Nov. 28, the day before his 25th birthday, he acquired pneumonia that put him in the hospital until just before Christmas. He was able to spend Christmas with his family, but again developed pneumonia that became too much for his body to fight off.

Jordan was born on Nov. 29, 1992, in Orlando, Fla., to Melissa (Ryon) and Todd Allen. As a kid, he lived in many places, including California, Iowa and Minnesota. He found his home in Victor, Iowa. He met the love of his life, Emily Thompson, at HLV High School, where they graduated in 2011. Jordan was a presidential scholar at Drake University, where he studied actuarial science. He changed his major to education and transferred to UNI. He wanted to be a middle school math teacher. Emily soon followed to begin their life together in Cedar Falls, where they called home. Emily and Jordan were married on Oct. 8, 2016, in a beautiful ceremony at UNI.

Jordan was an avid gamer and was very proud of the fact that he was the founder of the Panther E-Sports club at UNI. Even during times of poor health, he found comfort in his gaming, so much so that he wanted to reschedule his first chemo appointment after relapse due to "the Super Bowl" of his game coming up. He was strongly advised to show up for his treatment instead.

God wrapped his arms around Jordan on Jan. 4, 2018, with all of his family standing by his side. His memory will live on through his wife, Emily; his parents. Missy (Shawn) Albert and Todd (Kelli) Allen; his siblings, Hailey, Hunter, Jaelyn, Kayella and Chase; step-

siblings, Courtney and Brady; and a long list of extended family who loved him very much, including the Thompsons, the Millers, the Alberts, the Allens, the Ryons and the Gibbs families.

He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Michael Allen; his grandmother, Tracy Theisen; and multiple great-grandparents.

Memorials may be sent to Jordan and Emily's GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/jordanmichaelallen.