Allen Ronald Holmes passed away on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at Windsor Manor Assisted Living Community.  Allen was born on August 28, 1931 at Hand Hospital in Shenandoah to Elmer and Inez (Falk) Holmes and was the youngest of three children.

Allen grew up on the family farm east of Shenandoah and attended Arbordale Country School, eventually attending and graduating from Shenandoah High School in 1949.  After graduation, he worked on the family farm with his father until being drafted into the Army in 1952 during the Korean Conflict.  Allen served 11 months in Korea and 21 months active service, having been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  Allen's cousin, Richard Holmes, lost his life in Korea, and Allen was honored to accompany Richard's body back to the United States, with the signing of the Armistice Agreement and the end of the war being declared on his journey back home.  Allen was very proud of this military service and carried that with him throughout the rest of his life.

Soon after his arrival back home, Allen married his sweetheart, Clara Berlin, who had been waiting his return.  They were united in marriage on March 21, 1954 at the United Methodist Church in Shenandoah.  The couple made their first home one-half mile east of the Holmes family farm, the farm that would eventually be their home.  Allen and Clara had three children: David, Sandra, and Daniel.  He and Clara raised their children on the farm where he had been raised, as he pursued his lifelong love of farming and eventually incorporating a dairy operation.  Family was very important to Allen, and in his quiet and reserved manner, he set an example and laid a foundation of love, faith, and morality that we were so blessed to be the recipients of.

Allen was very active in the church, having attended St. John's Lutheran Church in Essex, Iowa as a child with his parents, and then eventually moving to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Shenandoah, being a member there for the rest of his life.  Allen served on the Church Council and also taught Sunday School for many years.  In addition, Allen served as Clerk of Tarkio Township in Page Country for 20 years.

Allen was preceded in death by his wife Clara Holmes, parents Elmer and Inez Holmes, sister Elmarie and brother-in-law Dale Irvin, and brother Marlin Holmes.  Left to cherish his memory are his children David (Danette) Holmes of Prescott, AZ; Sandra Swope of Shenandoah, IA; and Daniel (Connie) Holmes of Shenandoah, IA; grandchildren Erin (Dillon) Bauer of West Des Moines, IA; Alex Holmes and fiancé David Frazier and his son Ryan of Kansas City, MO; Jacob Holmes of Des Monies, IA; and Kassy Holmes of Great Falls, MT; as well as other relatives.

Open Viewing without family present will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home.

Visitation with family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be Private Family Only.

Memorials may be directed to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Shenandoah.