Anita Louise (Kirk) Allen, 79, of Maple Park, formerly of Farmersville, died June 24, 2014, at Wynscape Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Hospice in Wheaton from complications of a brain tumor. In July 2012, she had undergone surgery for breast cancer.
Visitation was June 30 at Conley Funeral Home in Elburn and a funeral was held July 1 at Four Square Church in DeKalb with interment in East Pierce Cemetery in rural Maple Park.
Mrs. Allen was born on Feb. 18, 1935, in Farmersville, the daughter of John Harold and Alice Belle (Norvell) Kirk. She attended Atwater Grade School and Lake Grade School, a one-room country school, southwest of Farmersville through the eighth grade and graduated from Farmersville High School in 1952. She attended Illinois State University in Normal graduating with an education degree in home economics in 1956.
She taught high school in Plano and other schools in the region, retiring in 1989.
She married Tracy Johnson, who farmed in the Sandwich area, in 1960, and he preceded her in death in September 1966 after a lengthy illness. She married Merle Allen of rural Maple Park in 1975 and he preceded her in death unexpectedly on May 31, 2008. He was a mathematics professor at Wabaunsee College in Sugar Grove and they lived on the family farm all of their married life.
She and Mr. Allen, along with a group she had instructed, played hand bells in church and nursing homes. She also played the church organ and piano.
She lived on the farm and managed it until her death. They had no children.
Surviving are three brothers, Roy (Ronda) Kirk of Altus, OK, Robert Duane (Kim) Kirk of Hillsboro, Clyde (Sophie) Kirk of Beaver Creek, OH; nieces and nephews Denise (Tim) Spencer of Chicago, Rochelle (Trent) Guinn of Norman, OK, Ryan Kirk of Oklahoma City, OK, Tonya (Kurt) Schnelle of Milwaukee, WI, Krista (Greg) Blaum of Wheaton, Jeffrey Kirk of Beaver Creek, OH, Lisa (Brook) Webb of Zenia, OH, Dr. Jeremy (Gina) Kirk, MD, of Avon, IN; several great nieces and nephews; and many friends in Maple Park, Kaneville and surrounding communities as well as her church family.
In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by a sister, Carolyn Martin; nephews Lonnie Kirk and John Stephen "Steve" Kirk.
