Elizabeth Kershner Van Allen's Obituary
Born January 10, 1915, in Clinton, Iowa to Dr. Frank O. and Anna Helena Kershner. Elizabeth was a life-long resident of the Clinton area. She attended Franklin School, graduated from Clinton High School, and attended Grinnell College and the Clinton School of Business. She married John Bevier Van Allen on February 3, 1939. They celebrated 52 years of marriage. Together they traveled by motorcar to Mexico City for their honeymoon. She was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church all of her life where she was a member of the church circle and served as a deaconess. She was a member of the Agatha Circle, Lyceum, several bridge clubs, and a 63-year-long member of P.E.O. Chapter JN of which she served as president and for Reciprocity. She was also a member of the Clinton County Historical Society and the Clinton County Humane Society. Elizabeth was an avid bird watcher, interested in family genealogy, and Sunday drives along the river and into the country. During her lifetime she had the good fortune to travel both abroad and to 49 of the 50 states. Elizabeth and her family hosted an AFS student from Bunbury, Western Australia for the 1964/65 school year. In 1998 she traveled to visit Leon and his family. She was always a champion of the underdog. She retired her driver license after 80+ years with no traffic violations. To the end she remained a strong and independent woman. Elizabeth was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was very proud of her eight grandsons and twin granddaughters, as well as her first and only great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband he died July 27, 1991. She is survived by her sister Frances Kershner Bickelhaupt, Clinton, IA; her cat, KIKI; her children: John K. (Susan) Van Allen of Sheridan, WY; Frederick H. (Kristen) Van Allen of Knoxville, TN; Jane Van Allen Brackett (Ted) of West Des Moines, IA; her grandchildren: J.B. Van Allen, Sheridan, WY; David (Melissa) Van Allen, Sheridan, WY; Traer Van Allen, Port St. Lucie, FL; Judson Van Allen, Raleigh, NC; Benjamin (Paige) Brackett, Des Moines, IA; Clinton Van Allen, San Diego, CA; Parke Brackett, Des Moines, IA; Gannon Van Allen, Memphis, TN; Anna Helena Brackett, West Des Moines, IA; Carly Jane Brackett, West Des Moines, IA; her great granddaughter: Ava Elizabeth Van Allen, Sheridan, WY; her two nieces: Frances Hill (Allan Rathje), Clinton, IA; Linda Galanis, Southbury, CT; great nieces Shawn (James) Lamb, and their children, Morgan and Marshal; Meghan (Vinny) McQueeney and their children, Nico and Anna; and great nephew J. Robert (Mia) Hill and their son, Cooper. Her family extends a heartfelt thank you to all of the nurses and doctors at Mercy Medical Center in Clinton who gave us solace and comfort during her last days. The family celebrated her life with a private service on Saturday, November 5th. Visitation will be held at Snell-Zornig Funeral Home, 302 3rd Avenue South, Clinton on Tuesday, November 8th from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Dr. Frank O. Kershner Nursing Scholarship Fund, Mercy Healthcare Foundation, 1410 North 4th Street, Clinton, IA 52732. The scholarship fund was established to encourage people from all walks of life and economic backgrounds to enter into a career in the nursing profession.
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