Anna Claire (Harl) Allen, of Atchison, Kansas, lived for 87 years before her passing on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 27, 2023, beginning at 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. at the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. A procession will leave the funeral home at 1:00 p.m. to Sugar Creek Cemetery for a graveside service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Atchison Humane Society, left in care of the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home.

Anna was born on March 20, 1935, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of the late John Claire Harl and Rowena Lois (Smith) Harl. She attended Atchison Public Schools, graduating from Atchison High School.

She married James William Allen on May 22, 1954, at the First Christian Church in Atchison; he preceded her in death on November 25, 1994. She is also preceded in death by her siblings, William T. Harl, Eben J. Harl, Donna L. Myers, infant sisters, Thelma Grace Harl and Ella Ruth Harl; and a son-in-law, Ronald “Tony” Burge.

Anna worked a few part time jobs after high school before she took on her favorite role as a mother and homemaker. Once her children were raised, in 1973, she began as a dispatcher for the Atchison Police Department until her retirement in 1993. She was well-known for her cooking and baking, especially her rum cakes and sugar cookies; she even delivered baked goods to numerous people and places. Anna enjoyed listening to the police scanner after retirement and always had a quick wit to her, even as she aged. She enjoyed all animals, but she especially loved her family who took great care of her.

She is survived by her children, Jimmy (Debbie) Allen and Susie Burge; along with her other son, Stevie Wilson and her other sister, Betty Rose Brown; four grandchildren, A.J. Burge, Blake Burge, Christy (John) Schnieders, Deanna Manning; six great grandchildren, Ethan, Cole, Gavin, Fallon Schnieders, Kennedy Smith, Kayelee Manning; one great-great grandson, Tru Schnieders; and a sister-in-law, Karla Allen.