SMITH CENTER – Claude Lynn Allen passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2017. He was born June 11, 1928 to Earl F. and Wilma D. (Byers) Allen in rural Lebanon. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1946.

Claude was in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Korean Conflict. He reported January 20, 1952 at Seattle, Washington for overseas duty. While in Korea he served in the 23rd Reg. 2nd Inf. Div. Aid. Man. He was discharged May 8, 1953. He was a medic and received the Purple Heart. He returned to Lebanon where he was a school bus driver and helped his parents run their store, Allen Produce. He became a Rural Mail Carrier of Lebanon on April 20, 1957 and retired in November, 1999 after 42 years of service. Some of the awards he received through that time were: The Million Mile Safe Driver Award and Mail Carrier of the Year in 1993.
He married Sharleen K. Holthus on August 7, 1960 at the First St. John Lutheran Church in Kensington. To this union two sons, James Claude and John J., were born.

Claude is preceded in death by his parents, wife Sharleen, son James (Jim Bob), two infant grandsons, Brother Don Allen and sister-in-law Ruthie Allen and Janice Allen, and sister-in-law Kathy Holthus.

Survivors include son John and wife Arlyce and grandchildren Joshua and Hannah of Topeka, daughter -in-law Patricia Campbell and husband Steve and granddaughter Linsey of Portis, grandsons Marcus Allen of Portis, Skyler Campbell of Wichita, Tanner Campbell of Hays, and Austin Allen of Topeka; brother-in-law El Dean Holthus of Smith Center; brother-in-law Allen Holthus and wife Barbara of Lakeville, MN; nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

Claude was a man of few words and a loving heart. He was a good role model for his grandchildren by the way he lived his life and treated others. He liked to hunt and fish, sit in his recliner and read a good western or watch a good game. He will be greatly missed because he was greatly loved.

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