Frank McAllister

Francis (Frank) J McAllister Jr. passed away Thursday, December 18th, 2025, of complications due to cancer at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, IA. He was 90.

Frank was born to Francis Joseph McAllister Sr. and Alice Amelia (Roach) McAllister on April 29, 1935, at home in Jefferson Township, Madison County, IA. He graduated from Van Meter High School in 1953 and toured the western US with friends and classmates after graduation. Frank farmed with his father and brother until enlisting in required military service. He completed Army Lineman training at Fort Gordan, GA in 1957 and then entered the USAR. In 1963 he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant (E-5).

Frank and his wife Luana married in November 1965, and purchased a farm in Van Meter, Iowa. Their son, Mark, was born in 1967. In 1973, Frank and his friend, Gary Kiernan, added a 2 story addition onto the farmhouse. He continued to build additional outbuildings over the years to expand and improve operations until he retired from livestock farming. Frank started working for The Family Center in Winterset in 1998. A manager recognized Frank’s ability to repair just about anything and paid for Frank to complete the Stihl Master Wrench Service Training program. He became a Stihl Technician and helped many customers with equipment repairs over the years. Frank retired in 2010 and started working on the farm again. He helped install a new septic system, built a new garage, tiled the fields with his Jeep trencher, and made home improvements; all while harvesting trees for firewood to heat the house in the winter. Frank often said he had 50 years of work to do but only had 20 years to get it done.

Frank is survived by his son Mark, daughter-in-law Marilyn Pappas-McAllister, grandson Alexander Pappas-McAllister, sister Mary Swanson, stepdaughter Leanne Dally, stepson Doug Dally, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Luana (Jubell) McAllister, his brother Russell and wife Alice Lander; his brother Harold “Bill” and wife Bonnie Lander, his sister Ruth and husband Robert “Bob” Young, his sister-in-law Carla (Jubell) and husband Eugene Lowman, his brother-in-law Gary Swanson, his stepson-in-law Roger Stacy, and his stepgranddaughter Heather Stacy-Howard.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 29, 2025 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Van Meter, with visitation to be held one hour prior. Burial will follow in the Union Chapel Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Madison County.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family for a future designation.

*(NOTE: Services were changed from Saturday, December 27th to Monday, December 29th.)