Allen, Morris L.

Morris L. Allen, 84, of Summit Pointe, Marion, died Monday, June 27, 2011, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at Marion Christian Church, Marion, Iowa. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. A lunch reception will follow the service. In memory of Morris, the family suggests we honor his zest for living by wearing red. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, Iowa.

Mr. Allen is survived by his wife, Diane Hess Allen, and their five children, Janet Graeve, Sarah Edman, Elizabeth (Betsy) Di Fabio, Barbara Robison, and Edwards Allen. Other survivors include sons-in-law, Wayne Graeve, Rob Edman, Richard Di Fabio, Jeffrey Robison; and daughter-in-law, Jill Allen. Grandchildren are Caroline Graeve Kelly (spouse Ryan), James Graeve (spouse Andi), Elysia Edman Sullivan (spouse Bryan), Benjamin Edman (spouse Lauren), Danielle Di Fabio Moravec (spouse Joseph), Diana Di Fabio, Aryn Robison Zoll (spouse Alex), Brian Robison, and Emily Robison Rinehart (spouse Robert). Great-grandsons are Charles and Quinn Kelly and Hunter Zoll.

Mr. Allen was born Aug. 15, 1926, the youngest of eight children of Frank Perry Allen and Hattie Hacker Allen. He was predeceased by brothers Albert, Keith, Glenn and Warren Allen, and sisters Frances Allen, Dorcas Redman and Naomi Bowen.

Born in rural Ringgold County near Kellerton, Iowa, he attended rural and public schools in Lamoni, Shipley, and Leon, Iowa. He earned his bachelor's degree in education and political science in 1948 at the University of Iowa. He taught in public schools in Kellerton and Corning, Iowa. He served from 1948 to 1950 as a combat infantryman in Korea with Company L 279th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Division. Upon returning from his military service, Morris entered law school. In 1955 he married the love of his life, Diane, and received his JD (law) from the University of Iowa.

He practiced law for 52 years in Marion, Iowa, primarily in the areas of property, taxation and probate. It gave him great satisfaction to be a founding member of the board of trustees of Kirkwood Community College in 1966. He was a board member for more than 17 years.

Another great delight was to consider himself a “self-employed philosopher,” often saying “being unencumbered by knowledge, I can speak freely.”

Side-by-side with Diane, they created Allen's Orchard which they owned for 41 bountiful years. He wholeheartedly and robustly enjoyed the company of family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Kirkwood Community College Foundation, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406; Marion Public Library, 1095 Sixth Ave., Marion, IA 52302 or the Marion Christian Church, 1050 McGowan Blvd., Marion, IA 52302, in Morris' memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Morris at under obituaries.