Harley Duane Allbrandt

Harley Duane Allbrandt, 79, passed away September 7, 2012, in Fort Collins. Harley was born in Fort Collins on September 4, 1933, to Herman and Ethel Day Allbrandt, the youngest of eight children. Born into the throes of the Great Depression, he learned early the virtues of hard work and thrift. He graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1952. Following high school, he served two years in the army and was stationed in Japan. While serving as a private in the Army, he learned the value of an education. At the end of his military service, he returned to Fort Collins and took advantage of the GI bill to earn a degree in Industrial Arts from CSU, the first in his family to do so. During college he worked at a gravel company, rising early in the morning to go to work before class. This same strong work ethic was evident throughout his life. In the 1960s, he was employed at Martin Marietta in Denver. In 1965, he returned to Fort Collins where he worked for more than 20 years for Jack Henry Excavating. He later retired from the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, where he rarely missed a day of work. He retired from there in 1999. Harley was the father of three: Clifton, Benjamin, and Alison. He took great pride in his children's accomplishments and interest in their activities. When his sons were young he participated in Boy Scouts with them. He never missed his children's school band concerts. Harley marveled at the outdoors, and especially loved to fish and spend time in the mountains. During his mother's lifetime, he always took her fishing on opening day. He also enjoyed playing bridge, country western swing dancing, woodworking and auto mechanics. With a creative and visual mind, he always had materials for his next "project" on hand. A generous and outgoing person, Harley used to say, "I never met a stranger." Harley is survived by a brother, Ralph; and his wife, JoAnn Fort Collins; daughter, Alison Day and her husband, Pat Clements Johnstown; son, Clif and his wife, Lynn Crocker Aurora; son, Ben and his wife, Jill and their daughters, Melissa and Sarah Newport News, VA. A memorial service to celebrate Harley's life will be held with Reverend Laurel Liefert officiating at the Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive Street, on Friday, September 14, 2012, at 4:00 p.m.