SIDNEY -- Marilyn Van Allen, age 88, born June 5, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, passed away peacefully at 3:26 pm on March 29, 2021 with her youngest son, John and husband, Leroy by her side at Health Care East, Dorothy Love Retirement Community.

Marilyn is survived by her son, John Tiernan; six grandchildren, Stacy Rueckhaus, Andy Steenrod, Adam Steenrod, Julie Casiano, Sarah Steenrod, and Amie Tiernan; eighteen great grandchildren, Madi Bice, Jacob Bice, Nicholas Bice, Lily Rueckhaus, Blake Steenrod, Izaiah Steenrod, Levi Steenrod, Myles Steenrod, Ava Steenrod, Cole Steenrod, Emerson Steenrod,  Rayner Steenrod, Finley Steenrod, Aurora Steenrod, Brylie Casiano, Vincent Casiano, Gia Casiano, and Grace Steenrod. She was preceded in death by her parents John Jacob Hauer and Maria Ann Hauer (Schon), her first husband, James J Tiernan, grandson Jamie Lee Tiernan, oldest son James M Tiernan, daughter Teresa (Terri) M Steenrod, siblings Dorothea Marie Hauer, Richard John Hauer, Adelle Francis Hauer and John Jacob Hauer, Jr.

As a child, Marilyn raised pet rabbits and chickens, showing her early love of animals and especially dogs. She also loved helping her mother in the home kitchen and later in the late 1940s as a teenager working with her mother at the Gray drug store (Lakewood Ohio).  She worked behind the soda fountain while her mother worked in the kitchen as a very popular cook. The culinary skills she learned from her Hungarian mother remained with her entire life. Her education included three years at Lorde's Academy, one year and graduation from West Tech High School and one year at Van Dyke School of Business, all in Cleveland, Ohio. Early employment in the Cleveland area included one year for Cities Service Oil Co. as general office work, two years at Cadillac Tank Plant Purchasing Department and three years as secretary to a pool of engineers. While in the Cleveland area, she married her first husband, James J Tiernan, in 1951 and they had three children there.

In 1962, her husband's job transferred him and the family to Sidney, Ohio. She secured employment that year with AMOS Press division of Coin World. She was assistant editor for 13 years and full editor of the Collectors Clearinghouse weekly page of Coin World magazine from 1978 thru to retirement in 1991. She answered questions on coins by readers, took coin photographs and prepared descriptions and explanations for her weekly full page. She also visited and toured U.S. Mints, gave talks at coin club meetings and convention seminars, wrote feature stories and set-up and manned Coin World exhibit booths at coin conventions all over U.S. major cities. She enjoyed cooking, cycling, daily walks, gardening, fitness, health and beauty products.

Tragically, her husband James died in 1970 and she finished raising her three children as a loving and caring mother. In 1984, she and Leroy Van Allen fell hopelessly in love with each other and married in 1986. It was a sublime marriage of 34 years with mutual respect, love and care for one another.

Upon Marilyn's retirement from Coin World, she accompanied husband, Leroy, a coin dealer, to coin conventions around the U.S. and helped man their table and interface with customers. After Leroy retired as a coin dealer in late 1990's, they enjoyed touring, attending car shows and participating in parades with their antique and classic cars that Marilyn sometimes drove. Their antique cars were sold in 2009 when they moved to a town house. They attended Sidney First United Methodist Church.  Marilyn had a very strong Christian faith throughout her entire life.  
She was an Activities Coordinator for Dorothy Love Retirement Community in Sidney during 1993-1995 and associate at Stage/Peoples department store in Sidney from late 1990's thru 2010. In 2014, Marilyn, Leroy and their beloved dogs Morgan, Daisy and Sammy, moved into a residential home at Dorothy Love Retirement Community where they remained the rest of her life.

A beautiful, smart, loving and classy woman that will be dearly missed by her husband and family.

A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home with Chaplain Ed Ellis officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5 to 7 PM.

If desired, please make contributions to Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, https://www.alzheimersprevention.org