Laura Ann Allen
May 16, 1934 — September 25, 2022
Laura Ann (Andersen) Allen was born on May 16, 1934, on the family farm northeast of Avoca, IA, to Ernest and Lillian (Johnson) Andersen. She was baptized at English Lutheran Church in Avoca on July 16, 1934 and was confirmed on her 14th birthday on May 16, 1948. She attended country school for eight years and then attended and graduated from Avoca High School on May 17, 1951.
Even though Charlie and Laura Ann attended high school together, they did not start dating until after graduation. Laura Ann had a job secured at Avoca State Bank before graduation and started working there on June 1, 1951. Laura Ann shared with family that in 1953, her annual salary before deductions was $2,140. She always managed to be the teller at the window when Charlie brought in his paycheck or car payment. This was the highlight of her day and the rest is history! Laura Ann and Charlie got engaged on May 16, 1953, on her 19th birthday, and were married at First Lutheran Church in Avoca on Sunday, August 8, 1954. As the story goes, Laura Ann had to quit work at the bank after they were married as they wouldn't allow married women to work there.
After the birth of their first child, Laura Ann became a stay-at-home mom and raised their four children. Laura Ann was a talented seamstress. She made matching outfits for her children, prom dresses for her girls, and later on she even sewed for her grandchildren. She sewed bibs for all of the grandchildren using terry-cloth bath towels. They were used at every family get-together and caught many a crumb! She also mended many football uniforms for Larry's football teams that he coached.
In 1959, Laura Ann and Charlie moved to the farm. Laura Ann shared that she was not as excited as Charlie was to move, but she became the typical faithful farm wife. Laura Ann prepared many a meal for hay balers and corn shellers with dessert being her famous Corn-Sheller Cake. The pan always came back to the house empty! Later as her family grew, these meals still continued and expanded to orange jello with mandarin oranges and scrumptious Butter Brickle Dessert to complement the feast she prepared.
As Laura Ann's children grew up, they became involved in about any activities they could find. Although she wasn't a natural-born athlete, she was their #1 supporter. She acquired her sports knowledge on the fly! Her "mini" Woman's Guide to Football manual helped her understand the game a bit better. Her love of cooking carried over to 5-course meals taken to NWMSU and Simpson College for her boys' college football games.
Later, after the kids were in school, Laura Ann worked at Kubik's Kitchen, Wendl's Kitchen, and Kern's Café. In July of 1978, Laura Ann started working as secretary at Trinity Lutheran Church until December of 2005. She was very involved with the Trinity Lutheran Church women's organization. She organized and served at many funerals and volunteered at the annual Aebelskiver Supper.
After farming for 44 ½ years, Laura Ann got the chance to move back to town as she and Charlie purchased her parents' home in Avoca in 2002. She continued living there after Charlie passed away in April of 2020. She enjoyed her home so much and was able to remain there independently until her health began to decline.
During her entire life, Laura Ann was a devout Christian, devoted mother, and a selfless, caring, compassionate, and unconditionally kind friend to so many. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and send a special note or occasion-appropriate card to friends and acquaintances. She never missed sending birthday cards to her family, even as the family grew and grew and grew. Laura Ann was proud of her Danish heritage and kept in contact with those relatives.
On September 25, 2022, she passed away peacefully at Elm Crest Nursing Home in Harlan, IA. She had attained the age of eighty-eight years, four months and nine days. Laura Ann was preceded in death by Charlie, her husband of 65 years, her parents, in-laws William Dale & Alta Allen, sister & brother-in-law Eleanor & Mike Quinn, brother Robert Andersen, sister-in-law Darlene Andersen, sister-in-law Dorothy Eggerss, brother-in-law Dale Allen, and niece Patti Kay Eggerss.
Left to cherish her on earth are children: Janet (Dick) Dorsey of Anita, IA; Wayne (Kelly) Allen of Avoca, IA; Barb (Gail) Goodner of Carroll, IA; and Larry (Traci) Allen of Odebolt, IA; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren: Kristin (Devin) Christensen, Brooklyn and Breelyn of Ankeny, IA; Clayton (Meghan) Dorsey, Ashten and Reid of Anita, IA; Lindsey Kohorst, Baylie, Brynna, Brycee, and Brytleigh of Carroll, IA; Travis (Ali) Dorsey of Anita, IA; Madison Allen of Odebolt, IA; Alisha Allen of Denver, CO; Creighton (Kensey) Allen of Larchwood, IA; Carmen (Geoff) Martens and Jaxson of Avoca, IA; Payton (Garrett) Anderson, Hayley, Hayzel, and Boone of Wakonda, SD; and Eric Allen of Avoca, IA; brother Marlin Andersen of Avoca, IA; sister-in-law Linda Andersen of Avoca, IA; sister-in-law & brother-in-law Pat and Bob Rodenburg of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law Bonnie Allen of Atlantic, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Even though Charlie and Laura Ann attended high school together, they did not start dating until after graduation. Laura Ann had a job secured at Avoca State Bank before graduation and started working there on June 1, 1951. Laura Ann shared with family that in 1953, her annual salary before deductions was $2,140. She always managed to be the teller at the window when Charlie brought in his paycheck or car payment. This was the highlight of her day and the rest is history! Laura Ann and Charlie got engaged on May 16, 1953, on her 19th birthday, and were married at First Lutheran Church in Avoca on Sunday, August 8, 1954. As the story goes, Laura Ann had to quit work at the bank after they were married as they wouldn't allow married women to work there.
After the birth of their first child, Laura Ann became a stay-at-home mom and raised their four children. Laura Ann was a talented seamstress. She made matching outfits for her children, prom dresses for her girls, and later on she even sewed for her grandchildren. She sewed bibs for all of the grandchildren using terry-cloth bath towels. They were used at every family get-together and caught many a crumb! She also mended many football uniforms for Larry's football teams that he coached.
In 1959, Laura Ann and Charlie moved to the farm. Laura Ann shared that she was not as excited as Charlie was to move, but she became the typical faithful farm wife. Laura Ann prepared many a meal for hay balers and corn shellers with dessert being her famous Corn-Sheller Cake. The pan always came back to the house empty! Later as her family grew, these meals still continued and expanded to orange jello with mandarin oranges and scrumptious Butter Brickle Dessert to complement the feast she prepared.
As Laura Ann's children grew up, they became involved in about any activities they could find. Although she wasn't a natural-born athlete, she was their #1 supporter. She acquired her sports knowledge on the fly! Her "mini" Woman's Guide to Football manual helped her understand the game a bit better. Her love of cooking carried over to 5-course meals taken to NWMSU and Simpson College for her boys' college football games.
Later, after the kids were in school, Laura Ann worked at Kubik's Kitchen, Wendl's Kitchen, and Kern's Café. In July of 1978, Laura Ann started working as secretary at Trinity Lutheran Church until December of 2005. She was very involved with the Trinity Lutheran Church women's organization. She organized and served at many funerals and volunteered at the annual Aebelskiver Supper.
After farming for 44 ½ years, Laura Ann got the chance to move back to town as she and Charlie purchased her parents' home in Avoca in 2002. She continued living there after Charlie passed away in April of 2020. She enjoyed her home so much and was able to remain there independently until her health began to decline.
During her entire life, Laura Ann was a devout Christian, devoted mother, and a selfless, caring, compassionate, and unconditionally kind friend to so many. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and send a special note or occasion-appropriate card to friends and acquaintances. She never missed sending birthday cards to her family, even as the family grew and grew and grew. Laura Ann was proud of her Danish heritage and kept in contact with those relatives.
On September 25, 2022, she passed away peacefully at Elm Crest Nursing Home in Harlan, IA. She had attained the age of eighty-eight years, four months and nine days. Laura Ann was preceded in death by Charlie, her husband of 65 years, her parents, in-laws William Dale & Alta Allen, sister & brother-in-law Eleanor & Mike Quinn, brother Robert Andersen, sister-in-law Darlene Andersen, sister-in-law Dorothy Eggerss, brother-in-law Dale Allen, and niece Patti Kay Eggerss.
Left to cherish her on earth are children: Janet (Dick) Dorsey of Anita, IA; Wayne (Kelly) Allen of Avoca, IA; Barb (Gail) Goodner of Carroll, IA; and Larry (Traci) Allen of Odebolt, IA; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren: Kristin (Devin) Christensen, Brooklyn and Breelyn of Ankeny, IA; Clayton (Meghan) Dorsey, Ashten and Reid of Anita, IA; Lindsey Kohorst, Baylie, Brynna, Brycee, and Brytleigh of Carroll, IA; Travis (Ali) Dorsey of Anita, IA; Madison Allen of Odebolt, IA; Alisha Allen of Denver, CO; Creighton (Kensey) Allen of Larchwood, IA; Carmen (Geoff) Martens and Jaxson of Avoca, IA; Payton (Garrett) Anderson, Hayley, Hayzel, and Boone of Wakonda, SD; and Eric Allen of Avoca, IA; brother Marlin Andersen of Avoca, IA; sister-in-law Linda Andersen of Avoca, IA; sister-in-law & brother-in-law Pat and Bob Rodenburg of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law Bonnie Allen of Atlantic, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
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