Marion J. Allen

July 14, 1920 — November 12, 2016

Services for Marion Allen, 96, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Family will receive friends beginning at 9:00 a.m. prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment will be at the Chariton Cemetery. Memorials in Marion's memory may be made to HCI of Knoxville, an Animal Rescue League of your choosing, or the First Baptist Church in Chariton. Marion James Allen, 96, formerly from Russell and Chariton, Iowa went to be with his Heavenly Father November 12, 2016 at the Accura Nursing Home in Knoxville where he was a resident. Marion was born July 14, 1920 in Monroe County, Iowa on the farm of his parents, Charles and Ruth (Cessna) Allen. As a child he attended Sunday School at Hayden Chapel near the family home. Later he became a believer, was baptized, and became a member of the Christian Church in Albia, Iowa .He was a member of 4-H and showed his prized white face steer at the Iowa State Fair in 1939. He played the trombone in the Albia High School Marching Band. On Christmas Day, December 25, 1943, he married Thelma Grace Calhoun whom he had met the first day they entered Albia High School, the Class of '39. To this union a daughter Nancy Kaye and a son James Gene were born. In 1951, they moved to a farm in Lucas County. In about 1954, they became members of the First Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa. Marion was quite active. Marion and Maxine Randall taught the 4th and 5th grade Sunday School class for nearly twenty years. He and Grace were the leaders for high school youth fellowship along with Telfer Epp for nearly twenty years. He also served as a deacon many years. In August 2003, Marion and Grace moved to Chariton to the little yellow house. After Grace passed away in 2008, he purchased a three wheeled recumbent bicycle which he drove all around town. In August 2011, Marion moved to North Ridge Assisted Living in Chariton. From there he moved to the Accura Nursing Home in Knoxville in May 2015. Marion was a farmer and loved his garden but still had a full time job also (including on the line at Morrell Meat Packing, John Deere, and Solar Aircraft, as a bookkeeper at Russell Produce and the Coop in Chariton, as a bus driver for Russell School, and in maintenance at the Hy-Vee offices in Chariton). He loved woodworking and raising sheep but most of all he loved his Bible and what it stood for. He was always honest and fair in his dealings, sometimes too trusting, but never complaining. The summer of 1960 was the beginning of family vacations. They started with a Rambler, then a tent, then a pickup camper. Marion loved to go, whether close by or far away. They traveled to 46 of the lower 48 states during the one or two week summer vacations over the years along with a trip to the Stampede in Calgary (Marion's request). Daughter Nancy did most of the driving as her parents grew older. Marion and Grace celebrated their Golden Wedding by renewing their vows at First Baptist December 26, 1993. They celebrated their 64th anniversary on Christmas Day 2007 with the family. He is survived by his daughter Nancy Moss and fiancé Virgil Arns, son Jim, grand-daughter Melissa Allen (Vince) Poush, great granddaughter Jamie Allen (Dillon) Maple, great grandsons Tanner Poush and Blake Poush, sister-in-law Thelma Calhoun Hoover, nieces Doris (Dick) Mahin Algren, Roseann (Gary) Calhoun Miller, Shirley (Mike) Calhoun Moon, Carol (Roger) Calhoun Kendall and nephews Duane Mahin, Ron (Charlotte) Calhoun, Richard (Pam) Calhoun, Leon (Cindy) Calhoun, Karl Calhoun, He is preceded in death by his wife Grace on March 5, 2008, brother Keith (Thelma), twin sister Mildred (Irvin) Mahin, son-in-law Curtis Moss, twin grandson's Richard and Robert Allen, niece Rhoda (Don) Calhoun Bruhl, nephew Rex Calhoun. Cemetery Details Chariton Cemetery HWY 14 and HWY 34
Chariton, IA 50049

Visitation

NOV 16. 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (CST)

Pierschbacher Funeral Homes - Chariton

914 Roland Ave

Chariton, IA 50049

[email protected]

https://www.pierschbacherfuneralhome.com

Service

NOV 16. 10:30 AM (CST)