Obituary for Marie Grace Clara Allan Marie Grace Clara Fratzke was born at home in rural Buchanan County December 14, 1924 to Clara Marie Sophia Lobeck Fratzke and Henry August Fratzke. Marie attended country school, going on to high school in Jesup. She grew up on her family’s farm with no electricity until her Senior year in high school.
As a child she was in 4H and raised a prized Ayrshire cow, winning champion rank at the county fair. Marie went to Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls beginning at age 16. Marie majored in vocal music, traveled and performed with the faculty choir, sang and made recordings for the local radio station.
She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and was crowned one of ISTC’s Old Gold Queens. While attending college Marie worked at J.S.Latta’s book store and sang for local church services weekly. Also during one summer of her college years she traveled to San Francisco, working for the war effort distributing ration books.
Marie met John William Allan during college and they married March 6, 1947 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran church in Readlyn iowa where Marie’s Grandfather Ludwig Lobeck was founding pastor. After graduating from ISTC Marie taught music at New Hartford for two years while John finished his college degree. They then moved to Northwood and she taught music in Stanley, Iowa.
Two daughters were born, Mary Patricia Allan in 1951 and Annette Kay Allan in 1952. The family moved in 1953 to the edge of Allison to farm and Marie taught vocal music in grades 8-12 for some of those years. She often sang for local church services, weddings, funerals and other events.
During summers, as their daughters grew up, John and Marie took a trip each year, loading up the family in their trailer and traveling to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Canada. John began working in 1966 for Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo and the family moved to Cedar Falls in January of 1967. Marie began teaching vocal music in their public schools, Main Street and Minor from 1967 to 1971, after which she achieved her Master’s degree from UNI in Library Science and became the Children’s Librarian for the Cedar Falls Public Library.
While living and working in Cedar Falls, Marie and John bought farmland in Butler County. They worked together keeping daily tabs on crop prices and selling their corn and beans for the legacy that is now Allan Family Farms. In the winters following their retirements, John and Marie traveled in their RV to Texas.
They delighted in spending several months there every year. Marie loved her 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren very much. Survived by: 2 daughters, Mary Chien of Cedar Falls, Annette Allan Andres (Robert) of Waterloo; 6 grandchildren, John Andres (Jennifer) of Ankeny, Lindsey Buck (Andy) of Ames, Kelly Huck (Josh) of Waterloo, Amy Guffy (Erik) of St. Paul, MN, Sean Chien of Portland, OR, Kristin Chien of Cedar Falls; 9 great grandchildren, Audriana Hardy, Madison Chien, Simon Guffy, Addison Andres, Nico Buck, Clint Uhlenhopp, Charles Andres, Lucas Buck and Elliot Guffy.
Proceeded in death by: her parents, husband, and 5 brothers Erwin, Kurt, Robert, Harold and Ronald Fratzke. Services: At Marie’s request a formal funeral service will not be held. The family will gather in private to honor the life of their beloved mother and grandmother with burial in Fairview Cemetery, Cedar Falls.
Memorials: may be given to The Children’s Department of the Cedar Falls Public Library. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Marie Grace Clara Allan please visit our Sympathy Store.
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