Joplin, MO - Thomas Joseph (Tom) Allen, 78, a Joplin resident since 1968, died Thursday from cancer in hospice.

Born July 23, 1947 in Dubuque, Ia., near his first hometown of Galena, Ill., Tom moved to Englewood, N.J. then to Joplin.

He was preceded in death by his parents Vic Allen and Betty Allen, both of Joplin, and brother Gregg Allen of San Francisco.

He is survived by his brother Nate Allen of Fayetteville, Ark., and in Fayetteville Nate's two children, daughter Kym and son David, and Kym's husband, Odie Williams and their four children; sister Vicki Allen and her husband Mannie Garcia in Alton, Ill., and nieces Barbara Straub of Sacramento, Calif., and Tori Fullmer of Denver, and Gregg's wife Terry Allen of San Francisco

Tom also would have been remembered fondly by his first dog Professor and the many cats and dogs and even a pony he would adopt.

Tom graduated Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood. He attended Monmouth College, the University of Tulsa and the University of Arkansas before completing his business degree at Missouri Southern State College.

In Joplin he managed the Land of Oz and by many was called the "Wizard" or "Wiz." Tom owned and operated the Office Lounge and later worked for Bagcraft.

He was an avid follower of NASCAR.

Our special thanks to Michael Stair of Joplin and former Joplin resident Mindy Murphy Iverson of Bella Vista, Ark. for remaining Tom's steadfast friends through the end.