Marcia J. Allen

Marcia J. (Lynch) Allen, 83, of Clive, passed away on December 2, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Born on October 20, 1942, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, she was the daughter of Edward and Anna (Clarken) Lynch. Marcia was raised and educated in Barnum, Iowa, graduating from NW Webster Community High School in 1961. She went on to pursue her passion for caring for others, graduating from the St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1964.

On June 27, 1964, she was united in marriage to the late Terrence "Terry" Allen at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Barnum. The couple established their first home in Iowa City, where Marcia began her career as a Registered Nurse at University Hospitals. Marcia supported her family through many chapters, moving from Maine to Ames, Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Colorado, before retiring back to Fort Dodge.

Throughout these years, Marcia faced the devastating loss of her son, Tim, when he was just 16 years old. It was a heartbreak she carried deeply, yet she found the strength to continue being the loving anchor for her husband and her surviving boys.

While Marcia was a dedicated nurse and supportive wife, her family knew her as a prankster with a relentless work ethic. She was a fixture at her sons' games, never missing a chance to cheer them on. Her support went beyond the stands; she wouldn't hesitate to put on a mitt and catch while the boys practiced their pitching.

She had a mischievous sense of humor and was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted. She famously detested the cold, once making sure Terry's letters pursuing a job opportunity with a doctor in Maine simply 'disappeared' to ensure the family wouldn't settle in the freezing north. She also loved a good prank, once fooling her son into believing school was canceled due to eight inches of snow, only for him to open the curtains to a bone-dry street.

Proud of her Irish heritage, Marcia loved a good party and the company of friends and family. She was frugal, practical, and incredibly generous. A master of the stock market, she invested in what she knew-watching the ticker like a hawk and buying stock in the places she shopped. She never missed a good price, once mailing a 50-cent coupon for Chi-Chi's salsa to her son in Spokane, oblivious to the fact that the brand didn't exist on the West Coast.

A farm girl at heart, Marcia cherished the memories of working on the farm alongside her dad. That love for the outdoors stayed with her; she was happiest when she was busy, especially cleaning up the land at the family cabin. Inside the home, she was the heart of the family. She loved John Denver songs, dancing with the kids and grandkids, and playing endless rounds of Crazy Eights, Gin Rummy, and puzzles. Sunday afternoons were reserved for family after church, where she was never short on ice cream cones with mini chocolate chips-even serving them in the morning for the grandkids.

She was a woman who knew what she liked. Dinner planning often revolved around the question, "What are we going to have with the potatoes?" She enjoyed her evening happy hour on the deck, savoring a glass of wine, paired with her favorite See's Candies Turtles.

Above all, Marcia was fiercely loyal to her husband, Terry. They were a true team, and she rarely wanted to be anywhere without him. Throughout her life, she always put herself second to others. Her legacy is one of profound care, well-described by a tribute: Of those angels in human form, who are blessing the Earth by their unselfish love and devotion, this dear departed woman was one.

Marcia is survived by her three sons: Tom (Kristie) of Colorado, Dan (Molly) of Iowa, and Dave (Ellie) of Iowa; her six grandchildren: Rachel, Sofia, Maggie, Max, Ryan, and Sam; and her sisters, Darlene and Betty.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Anna; her beloved husband, Terry; her son, Tim; her brother, Gene; and her sisters, Kate and Mary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 6, 2025 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale, Iowa. The family will receive friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. (one hour prior to the service). Interment will be at 3pm, Saturday at the St. James Cemetery, rural Clare, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to: Corpus Christi Cemetery Business Office, 2220 4th Ave. North, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 (ATTN: Kerstan Mason). Include a note that this is for the St. James Cemetery, Clare, Iowa in memory of Marcia J Allen. Add your address to receive a contribution receipt.

The funeral mass will be livestreamed. Please go to Marcia's obituary page at www.ilesfuneralhomes.com for the link and to leave online condolences.

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel.