James L. Allen

Mr. Allen died Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.

He was born March 22, 1934, in Ottawa, the son of Leonard and Margaret (Kesting) Allen. He grew up in Ottawa and graduated from Ottawa High School in 1952. He later attended Kansas State University.

Mr. Allen was a dairy farmer near Ottawa for many years. He was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1979 and to the Kansas Senate in 1981, where he served for 11 years before becoming a lobbyist and establishing Jim Allen Associates in Topeka.

He had served as a 4-H leader, on the school board and as a baseball coach. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Ottawa, where he had served as a trustee. He was also a member of Ottawa Rotary Club and was active with the local Boy Scouts of America.

He married Carol Schaben on Dec. 26, 1954, in Bazine. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three sons, Roger, Chicago, Michael “Mickey,” Ottawa, and Kevin, Houston; a daughter, Elaine Morris, Ottawa; a sister, Dorothy Angelos, Chicago; a brother, Robert, Springfield, Mo.; and six grandchildren.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Lamb-Roberts-Heise Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

The family suggests memorials to the church, Ottawa University or Ottawa American Legion Baseball, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa 66067.