Keith Harland Allison Sr., 02 Mar 1941 - 06 Aug 2024

ALLISON, CRUISE, BYERS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 9/18/2024 at 13:28:32

Keith Harland Allison Sr., 83, passed away on the evening of August 6, 2024, at his home in Marengo, Iowa. Keith donated his body to The University of Iowa Deeded Body Program.

He is survived by his son Keith (Stephanie) Allison II of Marengo, Iowa; four grandchildren, Katherine (Douglas) Cruise of Waterloo, and Robbie, Rubianne and Rory Allison, all of Marengo. And one sister, Sharon Byers, of Lakeland, Florida. Keith was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth, who passed away on July 19, 2019, and his parents, Oakley and Irene Allison.

Keith was born March 2, 1941, in Jefferson, Iowa, the son of Oakley and Irene Allison. He graduated from Grand Junction High School, Grand Junction, Iowa in 1959. He was a starting pitcher in baseball all four years of high school. And played on the area’s legionnaire baseball team. He participated in vocal music and earned several first prizes in high school single and quartet vocal contests. Keith was vocalist at many weddings and funerals, both for family, organizations, and other events. He began working at his hometown newspaper/print shop while attending high school, later moving to Waterloo, Iowa, where he worked at the Courier in Waterloo, Iowa. He and Elizabeth were editor and publisher of a weekly newspaper in western Iowa for several years. They moved to North English, Iowa in 1985 where Keith was managing Editor of the North English Record. Keith later was employed at The University of Iowa, eventually retiring in 2001, when they moved to Holiday Lake near Brooklyn, Iowa.

He met his greatest love, Elizabeth, on a blind date hayride and they were married on September 3, 1966. They were blessed with a baby boy, Keith Allison II on August 24, 1973. Keith loved cars, especially Corvettes, among other cars, including a 1964 Jaguar XKE convertible, a 1929 Ford Street Rod and 1932 Ford Roadster pickup. He enjoyed shopping at garage sales, and the finding and selling of antiques and collectibles with “Liz”. They both enjoyed showing and selling at the What Cheer Flea Market for nearly 20 years.

Published in The Hometown Current on September 18, 2024.