Allen, Mary Frances

Mary Frances Allen, 78, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday evening, Dec. 27, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital following a brief illness. Services will be held Friday, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Daniel L. Krueger and the Rev. Daniel Q. Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Topeka, Kan., at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, where a service of remembrance will be held at 6 p.m. Services also will be held in Topeka, Kan., at Berryton United Methodist Church.

Mary is survived by her two daughters, Janet Bailey and husband Dana of Naperville, Ill., and Patty Poggemiller and husband Shawn of Dubuque; and four grandchildren, Amanda and Nathaniel Bailey of Naperville and Tom and Nick Poggemiller of Dubuque.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband in October 2001.

Mary was born Nov. 28, 1932, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of C.A. and Gladys (Fix) Hutton. She graduated from Highland Park High School. Mary was quite musical all her life, playing drums in the high school band. She met her future husband, Norman Allen, through her 4-H and band experiences. Mary later attended Washburn University in Topeka. Mary and Norman married on Aug. 14, 1954, in Topeka. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1969 and settled in to make their home.

She thoroughly enjoyed attending Theatre Cedar Rapids productions as well as Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra concerts. Mary was also an avid traveler, touring all over the world. She also organized many local excursions for church groups and friends. Mary brought joy and love to all who knew her.

The family would like to thank Dr. Cowden, Katie Kavanaugh RNP and the nurses and staff at St. Luke's Intensive Care Unit for their compassionate care of Mary.

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