705 W. Warren Street | (812) 849-2600 |

John Allen DiamondPassing: September 11, 2021

Service:

Memorial Service

To be Announced

Visitation:

No Visitation

Cemetery:

Clear Creek Cemetery

To be Announced

February 5, 1929 to September 11, 2021

BLOOMINGTON – John Allen “Al” Diamond, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts and grew up in Saugus, Massachusetts, where he loved spending time at the ocean and eating the best seafood. 

He attended Boston University and worked as a store manager for many years with Grant’s, Woolworth’s and King’s Department Stores in MA, NY, VA, IN, and OH.  He also worked as a realtor and real estate broker—a career he loved and excelled at.

Al married Marie Tokarski in 1982 after a decades-long friendship.  They shared 28 years together before Marie went to heaven to prepare their eternal home.

Al gained stepchildren, Rick (Mary Lou) Piller and Eileen (the late Gene) DeVeau and a daughter, Susan (mom’s favorite 😉)

Al loved his grandchildren more than anything.  If you spent any time with him at all, you heard all the stories of how they made him so proud.  They are Eric Diamond, Grace DeVeau, Ashley Billingham, Melissa O’Grady, Bob Billingham (Julie), and Vickie Billingham (Rob), and great-grandchildren, Jackson and Katelyn.

He was also so proud of his nephews, Steve (Lynn) Heslinga and Gerald (Kyoko) Heslinga and their families and his nephew, Jim Tokarski, whom he loved very much.

He will be missed by close family friends, especially Patti Case and Bonnie Burk.

Al loved to talk and tell stories.  He had many friends all over the United States and enjoyed his close relationships with the doctors and nurses who cared for him and loved him.

Al will unite in heaven with his much loved and missed wife, Marie; sister, Beverl; his parents, Allen and Mary (White) Diamond; and his beloved cat, Kiara.

We want to thank IU Health Bloomington and IU Hospice for their excellent care.

A memorial service will be held at a later date due to Covid-19 restrictions and Al’s love and concern for his family and friends.

Memorial contributions in Al’s memory may be made to IU Health Hospice House, 2810 South Deborah Drive, Bloomington, Indiana 47403.

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10 Guest Comments

  1. Guest: Barbara Valaitis | Canonsburg
    Date: November 26, 2021
    Dear family, your Dad was my landlord for many years when I lived in Lima, OH. We kept in touch throughout the years. I’m so sorry for your loss. Al was a wonderful and generous man. I enjoyed our conversations. I’d send a Christmas card and he also sent one too. I know he is happy with your Mom. She was such a nice lady. She and you’re Dad would come to Lima to check on the house then we’d go to lunch and I’d listen to their stories about you guys. I was looking for his address when I cam upon his obituary. Be sure he and your Mom are watching over all of you. He will be greatly remembered and sadly missed.
  2. Guest: Julianne Harter | Fort Wayne, Indiana
    Date: September 18, 2021
    One of the best friends I ever had! Truly a man of integrity. His word was a promise and a handshake was his contract. Friends since 1995, it began as a tenant of one of his rental properties. He made it possible for me as a single mother to raise my girls in a safe neighborhood. The friendship continued and I was privileged to be treated so kindly by him and his family, Susan always made me so welcome. God bless you Al! My sincerest sympathy to the family. I know he's smiling in heaven!
  3. Guest: Brian Rothwell | Evans, Ga
    Date: September 17, 2021
    Although I hadn’t seen Uncle Al in more years than I can remember. He left an impact on me each time I met him. Especially as a child. He made such an impact my son shares his middle name. I shared with my kids how to build your bicep muscles by blowing into your thumb. I let them know I was made the manager of the toy department at one of Uncle Als stores he manged at the age of 7. Special memories I shared with them as they grew up. Amazing man and anyone who met him was blessed for it.
  4. Guest: Don, Bev Felger | Fort Wayne, In
    Date: September 14, 2021
    We have been friends of Al’s & Marie’s for 30 years. So many memories. Enjoyed helping Al with all his garage sales, going to garage sales with him and getting a laugh out of hearing him getting a bargain! Enjoyed all his visits when he came back to Ft Wayne from Bloomington and hearing about his daughters and grandchildren. Also going to play bingo with Al and Marie. He was a great friend got many phone calls and on face book. Our prayers for all of his family.
  5. Guest: Ed Trease | mansfield
    Date: September 14, 2021
    So saddened by this news and prayers for you all as Al always took me under his wings in retail and our long talks on the phone about the folks we worked with over the years and visits to his house in Lima Ohio and fort Wayne but now he is with the love of his life Marie and I am sure his retail friends will greet him at Heavens door and especially Jim Hanson
  6. Guest: Julie Carter Piercy | Saugus Mass. 01906
    Date: September 14, 2021
    My family and the Diamonds were neighbors for many many years in Saugus. Mass. Their were six of us children and there was always one of us over there playing with the dog helping Mrs.Diamond and my fun was playing cards with Mr. Diamond. He was a great painter in his day and probably painted all the rooms in our house. Allen and Beverly were working a lot but Allen lived on Morton Ave. with mom and dad as long as I remember. Besides his traveling with work we spend many hours hanging together. Allen came to visit me and some friends in Saugus about five years ago and we had many memories to talk about. He was a great son and friend and my memories will never be forgotten. RIP Allen
  7. Guest: Matthew Nekola | Bloomington, IN
    Date: September 13, 2021
    I cherish the memories you shared as you grew up, we’re educated and learned so much as you worked your way through retail establishments. It was great getting to form friendships with your daughters and their families and I always appreciated how well you treated me and my co-workers that banked with you. You were a special person and there is certainly a special place in Heaven that will now be uplifted by your presence. May you and Marie enjoy everlasting happiness!!
  8. Guest: Jim Tokarski | Cane Ridge, Tennessee
    Date: September 13, 2021
    I loved the stories he told about how he started in retail at King's department store, and how he worked his way up the corporate ladder and the many various people he met and worked with. He still has pictures (kings Dept. store used to sell them) hanging on his wall in his home, the pictures came from Kings Dept. store , the pictures must be over 50 years old. I remember them from my Aunt Marie's house on sunny side in riverside in Buffalo. I will miss Uncle Al very much, he loved his family very much and he always made me feel very special. Peace & all Good.
  9. Guest: Jim Tokarski | Nashville, Tennessee
    Date: September 13, 2021
    I loved the stories he told about how he started in retail at King's department store, and how he worked his way up the corporate ladder and the many various people he met and worked with. He still has pictures (king Machine used to sell them) hanging on his wall in his home, the pictures came from King Machine, the pictures must be over 50 years old. I remember them from my Aunt Marie's house on sunny side in riverside in Buffalo. I will miss Uncle Al very much, he loved his family very much and he always made me feel very special. Peace & all Good.
  10. Guest: Bonnie Burk | Bloomington , Indiana
    Date: September 13, 2021
    Al and I spent many afternoon sharing our stories and our love for old TV shows.As time went on we realized we had so many things in common and some of the same experiences! We laughed and cried together during our discussions on many topics like our families, jobs, pets, and life and death. I am going to miss that quirky smile and the “ LOOK” he gave you when he was teasing you. I love you Al ! I am going to miss you terribly. I was blessed to have gotten to know and love you. You will always be in my heart!