Obituary of Warren Edwin Allen

October 15, 1936 – Toronto, Ontario
December 10, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Warren Allen of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021 at the age of 85.

Born and raised in Toronto, ON.; this captain of the high school football team would later marry the head cheerleader, Elizabeth Jean (Sutton) in December 1958. They were married for thirty-seven years and raised four children together. 

Warren earned both his Civil Engineering in 1959 and Masters in Structural Engineering in 1964 from the University of Toronto, as well as an MBA in 1970 from York University. He would later continue his appreciation for academia by designing and developing the University of Calgary’s first Project Management Program; for which he would also assume roles as Professor and Program Director.
Warren would pay for his first four years of university by serving as a cadet in the Canadian Armed Forces during the summer. He would later serve three years as an officer with the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers with postings in both British Columbia and Werl, Germany.   He developed a love for travel which would continue throughout his lifetime.  His position as senior partner with Woods Gordon saw his family move to Iran in 1977 for two years and afforded them the opportunity to travel and see other parts of the world. Once retired, he would later fulfill a lifetime dream of living on the coast of Mexico.  He would eventually return to Calgary to be closer to his children.

His career focused on the planning and execution of major programs and projects as a project management consultant and he served on the boards of various industry bodies including, the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Alberta (ICMCA). Prior to his retirement Warren was the Managing Director of PM Associates, applying project management processes and techniques to various management projects. 

In later years Warren would often describe his career as ‘managing people’ and those who knew him best can attest to the fact that he often took the same methodical approach to his personal life. He gave everything he had to everything he did, and all those that he loved.  He was all in at all times, and there were never any grey areas with him. He loved the ‘puzzle’ of life and was forever trying to help find ‘the solution’; whether that be in the construction of a deck, a business problem, or a relationship issue.  He had a brilliant, creative mind, and was never too busy to share his ideas.

Dad never gave up, on anything or anyone.

In his active years he loved fitness and curling; and achieved the rank of a Life Master bridge player who spent countless hours playing at the club and online.  He was a thoughtful, caring man who was passionate about life and always thought about his next adventure.  He loved food, wine, dancing, and later wrote poetry that he would share as gifts. He had a sharp sense of humour, a quick wit and was a shameless flirt with his favourite nurses right to the end.

Warren was at his core, a practical man and asked that in lieu of the ‘regular funeral trappings’, that we instead come together with those we love and celebrate life.

Please raise your glass as a tribute to Warren Edwin Allen….

We are so very grateful to have known and loved you and for all that you contributed and taught us about the world and the people in it. In your honour, may we always celebrate our triumphs and be forgiven our mistakes. You will be missed. Love you, Dad.

Besides Elizabeth Jean (nee Sutton) his wife of thirty-seven years, Warren is survived by his four children; three daughters, Deborah ‘Lynn’ and her husband Steve McCoy, Barbara Joanne ‘Jodi’ and her husband Larry Mackenzie, Janice Elizabeth ‘Jan’, and her wife Heather Forsyth; his son, Jonathan Kirby ‘Kip’ and his wife Robin; twelve grandchildren, Chelsey, Chloe¸ Emily, Jackie, Justin, Jennifer, Matthew, Makayla, Jeffrey, Jenna, Talia and Nick. Warren is also survived by his two sisters, Christine Simpson, and Gail (twin sister of Gary); brother-in-law, John Bobrowicz, and sister-in-law Betty, all of Ontario. 

Warren was predeceased by his parents, Lilian, and George as well as his brother Gary.

Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Warren Allen, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.