The Anita Tribune, Anita, Cass County, Iowa, Thursday, 13 Apr 1950, Page 1:
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR E. G. Allanson FORMER RESIDENT HERE
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The last rites for Edward G. Allanson, a resident of Cass County, Iowa for over seventy years were held Friday, April 7th at 2:00 o'clock at the Congregational Church in Anita, Iowa. The Rev. C. M. Orcutt officiating. The subject of the text was taken from the Eighth and Forty-second Psalms. Music was furnished by Mrs. William McIntyre, Miss Roberta McIntyre, and Mr. William Orcutt, with Mrs. Flora Stone accompanying at the piano. The trio sang, "Rock of Ages," and "Abide With Me." Pallbearers were C. A. Robison, John Pearce, Wesley Johnson, William F. Crawford, Ora Buckner and Dr. G. M. Adair.
Mr. Allanson passed away at a hospital in Chicago about 5 p.m. April 4, 1950. He had been in poor health for over a year but, in October, was able to make a trip to Detroit to visit his daughters. He returned to Chicago in January. At this time he was seriously ill and little hope was held for his recovery. However, a month later he had improved sufficiently so that his condition was not considered alarming. Just as Mr. Allanson was beginning to take an interest in life and leave his bed for short intervals, he fell and suffered a fractured hip. He was taken to the hospital but his frail body could not withstand the ordeal, and he passed away the next afternoon.
Edward G. Allanson was born in Elgin, Illinois, November 11, 1863. With his family he came to Grundy County Iowa in 1872. One year later the family moved to Cass County, Iowa and in that vicinity he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Mary Helen Davis in December 1892. She preceded him in death April 11, 1914. To this union were born seven children.
Mr. Allanson worked in the bank in Anita for a year but later located on a farm. In his early life Mr. Allanson united with the Baptist Church, but after moving to Anita he became a member of the Congregational Church. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and at one time took quite an active part in its work.
In his spare time he worked at music, poetry, and studied geology. He was an honorary member of the Eugene Field Society of Poetry, and the Mark Twain Society of Poetry. Some of his poems were published in American Voices, 1939, the World Fair Edition. Four of his best musical compositions were, "Soul of the Rose," "Breezes of the Night," "Moon Dreams," and "The Parting." The following poem is written by him:
LIFE
This life, like a river, unceasingly flows in many awinding way;
And the deeper the grief, the more calm the repose,
Yet stronger the sweeps of its silen woes
On it's troubled way out to the sea.
... (more stanzas not reproduced here)
Oh, flowers of hope! that bloom by the way,
And springs of life-giving love,
Where flashes of truth from their fountains play,
In the radiance that falls from day to day,
In the radiance that falls from day to day,
From the light of a world above.
Mr. Allanson is survived by three daughters and three sons, Mildred L., and Mrs. Ruth Cogswell, both of Chicago; Mrs. Maurine Clifford of Farmington, Michigan; Eugene P., and Edward E. of Chicago; and Howard D. of Laguna Beach, California; a sister, Mrs. Mabel Franco and one brother, Willis C. Allanson. There are twelve grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. One son, George C. Allanson, passed away in 1936.
Those from out of town attending the services included Miss Mildred Allanson, Mrs. Maurine Clifford, Mrs. Ruth Cogswell, Eugene P. Allanson, Edward E. Allanson, Mrs. Olive Anderson and her sons James Allanson and Willard Allanson of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Miss Mary Churchill of Arthur, Ia.