Allene "Cookie" Cranston

Allene Jeanette Thompson Cranston, known to most as “Cookie”, 76, of Johnston, Iowa, passed away in her home on Monday March 24, 2025 with beloved dog Bailey by her side. Cookie was born in Iowa Falls, IA on June 9, 1948 to Archie and Martha Sprugel Thompson. She attended school in Williams, Lu Verne and Jefferson before graduating from Alta High School in 1966. Following graduation, she moved to Des Moines where she attended and graduated from AIB.

Cookie married Jerry Cranston in April of 1969 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines. Together they had two children, a son Cecil in 1971 and a daughter Carrie in 1973. Cookie worked in the Johnston High School library for 32 years, retiring in 2014. She had a passion for literature and was a gifted writer with published works.

Cookie was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; infant son, Cecil Archie; parents, Archie and Martha; grandparents, Levi and Mamie Thompson and George and Francis Sprugel; in-laws, Cecil Cranston and Floren Knox Cranston Shultz; brother, Dennis Thompson; brother-in-law, Jerry Kastengren; and nephew, Gregg Kastengren.

Left to celebrate her memory are daughter, Carrie Stephens (Brenden) of Urbandale; granddaughters, Rebecca and Gracie of Des Moines and Lindsay (Colby) of Ames; sister, Nancy Kastengren (Jim Larkin) of Ohio; sisters-in-law, Kathryn Thompson of Texas and Pat West (Jim) of Wisconsin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors, mentors, colleagues and classmates.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2025 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 30 also at the funeral home. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Furry Friends Refuge and Urbandale Food Pantry in loving memory of Cookie.

Cookie will forever be remembered as THE BEST Mom and Nana, an incredible friend and a determined woman who stubbornly and unapologetically chased and followed her dreams and passions.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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