Catherine L. Allan (Tracy)

Sioux City - Catherine Lorraine Allan, 86, of Sioux City passed away on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Armand Bertrand officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home
She was born Sept. 29, 1926, in Sioux City, the daughter of Frank and Mary Hagan Tracy. She was raised in Elk Point, S.D., and most of her schooling was there. She went to Des Moines and graduated from St. Joe Academy in 1946. She then attended Briar Cliff College and a business college in Sioux City. Catherine worked for an attorney following graduation. Her passion was helping people in a local hospital as a nursing aide, mostly in the children's department.
She met her future husband, created a friendship and married Robert James Allan on April 29, 1950. With that union, together they raised four boys and two girls. Her first priority was her family. She was a believer and one-day-at-a-time person. She enjoyed singing, and that talent she possessed gave her an opportunity to sing in the church choir. She had a strong belief to use God-given talents. She always said she was talking to God with church hymns.
Catherine was a young widow but felt her husband would want her to move on and do something worthwhile to live out her life. Her decision was the right one and she did volunteer work at the Senior Center for 14 years, enjoying every moment of it. She created many friendships. She was active in line dancing and met many people. She sang in the choir at the Senior Center and went to state fairs many times.
She loved life and lived it to the fullest. Her family was extremely important to her. Her faith was also an important part of her life. She enjoyed visiting family and friends. She also enjoyed vacationing in Germany and the states, and spending time with family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was a joyful time.
She is survived by three sons, Robert and Renee Allan of Sioux City, Denny and Beth Allan of Olathe, Colo., and Kevin and Deborah Allan of Bellevue, Neb.; two daughters, Linda and Jake Cox of Norfolk, Neb., and Kathy Allan of Sioux City; daughter-in-law, Deb and John Steinhoff of Sioux City; 14 grandchildren, Shawn Allan, Michelle and Travis Helt, Teresa and Brian Fitch, Britt and Meredith Allan, Dustin Allan, Dan and Kristin Allan, Nicolle and Matt Ertl, Cory Allan, Sara Lopez, Shannon Allan, Tamara Allan, Zachary Allan, Kelsey Allan, Brandy and Eric Retloff; 17 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; a sister, Pat Connolly; a brother-in-law, George Allan; sisters-in-law, Jeane and George Mason, Beverly Kehrberg, Karen and Ken Vaul, and Janet Wakeman.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; a son, David Allan; a granddaughter, Kim Cox; parents, Frank and Mary Tracy; a brother, Francis Tracy; brother-in-law, Bill Connolly; and sister-in-law, Viola Allan.