Allison Gerlach Obituary

Allison Michaelle Gerlach was born on January 22, 1971 in Des Moines, Iowa to James and Julie Gerlach.

Allie was a kind and generous person with many friends and many interests.

Making friends came easily to Allie. She was a good listener. She took interest in others, asking questions to get to know them better. She’d stay in touch and celebrate their victories. She was genuinely invested in the happiness of others. Not many people are like that.

She truly enjoyed meeting new people, dedicated to the belief that we are all fundamentally good.

Her generosity was well known. She loved animals and supported the local shelter and zoo. She loved Christmas and would sponsor families and elderly individuals thru the annual Winterfest celebration.

As a gift giver, Allie was notorious for picking the perfect present, be it practical or whimsical. She was a skilled crafter who produced personal treasures of outstanding quality.

The children of family and friends thought of Allie as a Godmother because she was so involved in their lives. She remembered birthdays, made visits and phone calls, and attended school functions and sporting events. She was always coming up with games and crafts to involve everyone and share in the laughter.

She was a remarkably creative person with a wide variety of talents. She was a writer, a fiber artist, and a digital creator. She was a talented illustrator and graphic designer, creating posters, logos, Web sites, and book covers for theatre and musical groups, and authors, and album art for independent bands.

Her imagination seemed utterly limitless.

As a child she dreamt of working for Disney or The Muppets one day. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in Theatre Arts, she studied animation at the Vancouver Film School. She arrived there as the fledgling Internet was gaining popularity, and decided to study the ways of Web development. She plied that trade at many Seattle businesses, eventually becoming the Web Manager for the City of Seattle Department of Transportation. She served nearly 20 years working for the City of Seattle.

Allie left us on June 20, 2024, after a brief but merciless battle with cancer.

She is survived by her father, James, her stepmother Jan, her brother Paul, sister-in-law Amy, niece Julianna, nephews Nicholas and Joseph, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, her family and friends encourage you to donate to the charitable organizations she supported - Seattle Animal Shelter, Woodland Park Zoo, and Seattle Center Foundation. A private service will be held in Des Moines. She will be buried with her late mother Julie in Des Moines, Iowa.

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