Donetta "Donnie" Allen Obituary (1926

Donetta Mae Allen, the older of two daughters of Marshall Eddie and Lula Mary(Sanburg) Ketchum was born in York, Nebraska on June 14, 1926. Donnie grew up in Shickley, Nebraska until the family moved to Avoca, Iowa in 1941. Donnie graduated from the Avoca High School in 1943. Following school, she began working for the Iowa Power and Light Company in Avoca and later at the draft office. Donnie and Jack D. Allen were married on the Ketchum farm north of Carson, Iowa on August 30, 1944. They made their home on a family farm north of Avoca before moving to their farm east of Carson. Their marriage was blessed with three children Larry D., Linda Marie, and Randy E. Donnie enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. In 1960, she began taking care of the books for the family's newly established business, Allen Implement. Donnie was an active member of the Carson United Methodist Church where she played the piano and served as the Sunday School Superintendent for many years. She was a member of the M&M Club in Carson, sold Tupperware, loved flowers and baking cookies. Donnie loved her family and spending time together. She and Jack enjoyed summer vacations to Lake Okoboji in Iowa. In 1966, Donnie and Jack moved to their home in Carson. In 1973, they sold their Implement business and Donnie retired from bookkeeping. She later worked a short time for Younkers in Omaha, and then at the Dillard's store in the Mall of the Bluffs for ten years. Donnie and Jack had been married 63 years when Donnie passed away at their home on January 5, 2008. She had attained the age of 81 years, 6 months, and 21 days. She was preceded in death by her father, Marshall Ketchum. Donnie is survived by her husband Jack Allen; sons Larry Allen and his wife Janel, and Randy Allen and his wife AnnaMaren; and daughter Linda Johnson, all of Carson; mother Lula Ketchum of Oakland, IA; sister Lela Cohn and her husband Edward of Omaha, NE; 10 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. Interment will be in the Carson Cemetery.