Charlene Elizabeth Baker Allen, 84, of rural Bloomfield, Iowa passed away on August 17, 2024 at the Hospice House in Ottumwa, Iowa with family at her side. She was born on September 25, 1939 in Bloomfield to Charley Olvin and Lila Larue Bowling Baker. She was united in marriage to Paul Keith Allen on September 25, 1957. Charlene graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1958. To this union three children were born; Dennis, Cindy, and Sherry. They were married for 54 years when Keith passed away on October 30, 2011. Charlene greatly missed her husband but remained on their farm and lived in the family home they built together in 1974.
Charlene was a farmwife and homemaker. She helped with the cattle, had bottle lambs, raked hay, and anything else that needed to be done on the farm. She raised a big garden and canned a lot of produce to feed her family. She was always baking and cooking. Family was very important to her. She loved spending time with her family and all her grandchildren. She will be remembered for her homemade noodles, crescent rolls, and many apple pies she made. Every fall she would work up bushels of apples from the apple trees Keith and her planted and grew. She enjoyed working in her many flowerbeds, garden, embroidering, sewing, and quilting. Charlene was a 4-H Leader for many years for the Lucky Maids 4-H Club. She was a longtime member of the Drakesville United Methodist Church and the Drakesvile United Methodist Quilters. She will be greatly missed by her family.
She is survived by a son, Dennis Allen of Bloomfield; two daughters, Cindy (Chuck) Riggenbach, Sherry (Kenneth) Padget both of Bloomfield; eight grandchildren, Alisha Allen, Derek (Lacey) Allen, Shea (Mike) Goblan, Dane (Rachelle) Riggenbach, Trevor (Shannon) Riggenbach, Bree (Alex) Reinert, Brandon (Teagan) Padget, Travis (Harmyni) Padget; twelve great-grandchildren, Mason Simmons, Aliya Reinert, Kinsley Allen, Jace Riggenbach, Shandy Padget, Kennedy Reinert, Collin Riggenbach, Myla Allen, Kennis Padget, Juliet Reinert, Clayton Padget, Thomas Padget; sister-in-law, Carol White; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two great-grandsons, Brody Allen-Hopkins, Camden Paul Allen; two brothers, LaVerne and Robert Baker; and a sister, Rosemary Allen.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Pastor Thom Bryant officiating. Burial will be at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday with the family present to greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorials have been established to Hospice of Wapello and Davis Counties and the Drakesville United Methodist Church.
