Remembering Jason...

Jason's obituary (PDF), beautifully and eloquently written by his mother, Delores:

Jason Scott Allen, 26
Death notice

On August 15, Jason Scott Allen of Zeeland, along with his fiancee Lindsay Christine Cutshall of Fresno, Ohio was called home to live eternally with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jason was born on May 16, 1978, in Edison, New Jersey and moved to Holland, Mich. as an infant. He attended Lakewood Elementary School and Woodside Elementary School. When he was entering the fifth grade, his family moved to Zeeland where he attended New Groningen Elementary School, Zeeland Middle School and graduated from Zeeland High School in 1996.

In 2001, he was a graduate of Appalachian Bible College in Bradley, W. Va., obtaining a bachelor's degree in Bible and a minor in Christian Camping. While at ABC, Jason took an avid interest in outdoor adventures sports. He was skilled in backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, and was a Class V river guide. Jason felt the Lord calling him to an outdoor adventure ministry where he could work with youth and young adults, using the skills and talents God gave him. He spent the past eight summers working in Christian Ministry Camps, guiding rafts and counseling young people. Some of the camps he worked at were Alpine Adventures in West Virginia, Whitewater Excitement in California, Beyond Malibu in British Columbia and most recently Rock-N-Water in California. It was while both he and Lindsay were employed with Rock-N-Water that they were chosen to enter heaven.

Jason had accepted the Lord as his Savior when he was 13 years old. He was a committed servant of God, a man of high moral character and had a heart for evangelism. Many times he gave his own Bible away to someone he had just met. He lived his life to glorify God, and to honor his church and his parents.

Jason and Lindsay were to be married on Sept. 11, 2004, in Fresno, Ohio. Lindsay shared Jason's love for outdoor adventure sports and for ministry to young people.

Jason is survived by his parents, Robert and Delores Allen of Zeeland, two sisters, Mrs. Howard Westra (Elizabeth) of Overisel and Vanessa at home, and paternal grandparents Joe and Helen Allen of Distant, Pa. His maternal grandparents are the late Lytle and Iola Scott of Belington, W. Va.

Jason was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Holland, MI. A family visitation is planned for Friday, Aug. 27 at Immanuel Baptist Church located on 22nd and Pine Ave. in Holland. Visiting hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

A joint memorial service for Jason and Lindsay will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Fresno Bible Church located at 24629 State Route 93, Fresno, Ohio. This will be a service of celebration of their lives here on earth and of their entrance into heaven's gates.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Rock-N-Water Christian Camp Ministry through the Wyandotte Federal Credit Union, 114 S. Waverly Road, Holland, MI (616) 396-7047. Make checks payable to Robert or Delores Allen.