View Video Tribute Allan L. Harshbarger, 75, of Keokuk, IA, formerly of Galesburg, IL and Louisville, KY, died at 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at the Keokuk Area Hospital in Keokuk, IA. He was born on October 1, 1932 in Galesburg, IL, the son of Frank Allan and Irma Arline Manley Harshbarger. Allan graduated from Galesburg Senior High School with the Class of 1951. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Allan married Ann Sinclair Maltby on June 20, 1954 at the First Presbyterian Church in Galesburg, IL. While in Galesburg, Allan worked for Alton Boxboard Company as a designer and upon promotion to Design Department Manager, transferred to Louisville, KY in 1963. Allan loved music and singing. He wrote the song, "Iowa Morning", a tribute to the state he loved, and received a letter of commendation from the Governor. He also had the distinct honor of participating in the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) as a baritone chorus member of Louisville's international championship chorus, the Thoroughbreds, serving as its president in 1966. While residing in Kentucky, he was a member of Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church, serving as a youth advisor. In 1968, he moved his family to Keokuk, IA, to work as a packaging/industrial engineer at Sheller-Globe Corporation, retiring in 1990. Allan was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church in Keokuk, a member of Masonic Lodge #29 and a charter member of the Hawkeye Area Grand Gaelic Isles Society (HAGGIS). He enjoyed coaching YMCA baseball, softball and basketball teams, loved fishing and hunting with family and friends and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. Allan always said that his biggest legacy in life was his family. This remarkable, kind and gentle man touched many lives and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Ann, of Keokuk, IA, three daughters, Rebecca Bliss of Hamilton, IL, Barbara Lofton and her husband, Doug, of Greenwood, IN, and Margaret Swan of Keokuk, IA, one son, Michael Harshbarger and his partner, Mark O'Brien, of St. Louis, MO, a daughter-in-law, Gwennan (Wendy) Harshbarger of Hamilton, IL, two sisters, his twin, Arline Elliott of Galesburg, IL and Carol Harshbarger of Sugar Grove, IL, eleven grandchildren, Ryan Bliss and his wife Yvette, of Carthage, IL, David Lofton and his wife, Lauren, of Nashville, TN, Daniel Bliss of Omaha, NE, Leah Lofton of Greenwood, IN, Kathryn Bliss of Springfield, IL, Lauren Bliss of Hamilton, IL, J.T., Beckah and A.J. Swan of Keokuk, and Lydia and Christian Harshbarger of Hamilton, IL, three great-grandchildren, Ali, Ava and Tyler Bliss and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Robert Warren Harshbarger in 1999, his son-in-law, Jeffrey Paul Bliss in 2004, two brothers-in-law, Joseph Elliott and Carl Eugene Berntson and a nephew, Mark Allan Berntson. A service in celebration of Al's life was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 13, at the United Presbyterian Church in Keokuk with Reverend Alice Hawes and Reverend Doug Lofton officiating. Private graveside services with military rites was held on Monday at the Keokuk National Cemetery. A Memorial was established the United Presbyterian Church Tri-State Scholarship Fund.