VAN ALLEN, John B. 1911-1991

VAN ALLEN, BEVIER, KERSHNER, BRACKETT

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 11/24/2002 at 14:04:57

The Clinton Herald Tuesday July 30, 1991 p. 12 The funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Presbyterian Church for John B. Van Allen, 80, of 200 N. 11th St., who died Saturday in St. Luke's Hospital, Davenport. Dr. Wayne Peach will officiate. Paul Eastland will conduct a Masonic Rose Croix service in conjunction with the regular service at the church. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in Clinton Chapel, Snell-Zorning Funeral Home. Burial will be in Springdale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Andrew Seamster, John Ward, Greg Graf, Jim Pfeiffer, Grant Wilke and Jeff Goodsman. Honorary pallbearers will be Lambert Neill, George Morris, George Kruse, Dan Kramer, Oliver Pankow and Karl Burg. Mr. Van Allen was born March 2, 1911, in Clinton, to Frederick and Carlota Bevier Van Allen. He married Elizabeth Kershner, Feb. 3, 1939, in Clinton. He was a lifelong resident of Clinton and was a 1935 graduate of the University of Virginia, with a bachelor of science degree in commerce. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a commissioned officer in the United States Army in the European Theater. He left the service in 1946 with the rank of captain. He received a Bronze Star. He was owner, president and treasurer of the John D. Van Allen Department Store from 1953 until his retirement in 1967. The store was founded in 1892 by his grandfather John D. Van Allen. His father presided over the family business until 1953. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he was a former elder, American Legion Post 190; Clinton Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow; Emulation Lodge No. 255 A.F. & A.M.; Scottish Rite Bodies; and Kaaba Shrine. He was past president of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and held many memberships on its committees. He was a former director of the Clinton Traffic Bureau and the City Planning Commission. Former offices and boards that he served on include: president of Jane Lamb Hospital Board; county chairman of the Red Cross; board member of the YMCA; board member of the Salvation Army; chairman of the Clinton Police Advisory Board; chairman of the United Way; and director of Interstate Power Company. He was the founder of the Clinton Jaycees, and was a ardent Little League supporter. He enjoyed model railroading. Survivors include his wife; two sons, John K. of Sheridan, Wyo., Frederick H. II of Irving, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. W.T. (Jane) Brackett of West Des Moines; eight grandsons and twin granddaughters. He was preceded in death by a sister. Death date: July 27, 1991.