Kathleen Elizabeth Allen, age 89, of Blair, died on Sunday, February 2, 2014 in the Gundersen Tri-County Hospital in Whitehall.

Kathy was born on April 16, 1924 in Minneapolis, MN to William and Marie (Tornquist) Johnson. She graduated from the Minneapolis North High School in 1942. Kathy married Herb Allen on December 22, 1943. She moved to Litchfield, MN and joined Herb on the family farm. In 1959 they sold the farm and moved to Blair. Kathy's first job was working at the Blair Press, later accepting the position of Administrative Assistant at the Trempealeau County Department of Social Services where she worked until her retirement. After retiring from the county job, she continued working for the Blair Lutheran Churches, later her role continued as a volunteer at the church.

Kathy loved sharing, remembering and bringing people together. She always had greeting cards ready for every occasion and tirelessly maintained the family website. Family reunions were always a special event in her life. She played the role as communicator with advance mailings and offered to support and help in any way she could. Another aspect to family was the importance of sharing the past, she carefully maintained the family archives of pictures and historical records. She felt a strong obligation to share the past with future generations.

Kathy is survived by three children, John (Dottie) Allen, Leslie (Donna) Allen and Candy (Dick) Pearse; seven grandchildren, Greg (Ann), Lynette Mowdy, Jason (Mary Jo), Jeanna (Mike) Sprague, Angela (Richard) Puent, Chris (Gina) and Richard (fiancee` Kelly); 11 great-grandchildren, Kyle, Isaac, Erik, Caleb, Jordan, Elizabeth, Aaron, Isaac, Samantha, Michael and Danah; a great-great-granchild, Scarlett Allen; two brothers, Bill and Jim (Sue).

In addition to her parents and husband, Herb, who died on April 12, 2001, Kathy was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth; a grandson, Doug Allen; a great-grandchild, Brandi Allen and two sisters-in-law, Rita Johnson and Jean Johnson.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in Blair Lutheran Church East with burial in the Rest Haven Cemetery both in Blair. Pastor Barbara Bruneau will officiate. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.

The Jack Funeral Home in Blair is assisting the family with arrangements.