Robert "Bob" Allen

Robert James Allen was born September 2, 1937 to William C. and Hazel M. (Miller) Allen, in Nevada, Iowa. He died on Monday, January 7, at Hospice of Pella Comfort House, Pella, Iowa, of cancer.

At the age of two, Bob went to live with Lew and Betty Hanson and remained with them the rest of his childhood.  He graduated from Nevada High School in 1955, and attended AIB in Des Moines, graduating in 1957. Bob joined the Iowa Air National Guard and was active duty for six months at Lackland Air Force Base. On July 10, 1959, he married Lois A. McKim, in Nevada, Iowa.  Two sons were born to them, Greg Lewis and Karl William.  They made their home in Nevada, Iowa, until 1965, when the family moved to Pella, where Bob became the City Clerk; a position he held for 26 years. He took early retirement several years later, enjoying his computer, coffee times and spending time with his friends.  He became interested in hospice work and was later named Volunteer of the Year in 2004.  Bob was a 32nd degree Mason, and attained the honor of being a Scottish Rite Mason for 50 years.

Survivors include his wife Lois; sons Greg (Janelle) of Des Moines, Iowa, and Karl (Crysti) of Urbandale, Iowa; his grandchildren: Benjamin Allen of Salt Lake City, Utah, Hannah Allen (Bennett Arvessto, great-grandchildren Alex and Walela Arvessto) of Chandler, Arizona, Sara Jontz (Michael) of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Sydney Allen of Des Moines, Iowa; his brother Richard Allen (Rosemary) of Nevada, Iowa; half-brother David Downey of California; sisters-in-law Sharan (Jerry) Davis of Tucson, Arizona; Janis Diehl of Nevada, Iowa, Marjorie Morphet (Donnie) of Groveland, Florida; brother-in-law, Larry McKim (Claudia) of Nevada, Iowa, and several nieces and nephews. 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and “adopted” parents, a brother Fred, in 1985, his two “adopted” sisters: Marjorie Stone and Ruth Miller, a brother-in-law E.H. “Phil” Miller, and his sister-in-law Marlene Allen.

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