Carolyn Blanchard Allen (born Carolyn Jensen; June 13, 1921October 9, 2018) was an American Republican politician and funeral home operator from Rock County, Wisconsin. She served four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly after winning a 1963 special election to succeed her deceased first husband, David J. Blanchard.
Background Allen was born Carolyn Jensen on June 13, 1921, in Cambridge, Wisconsin, daughter of Clarence B. and Eva ( Bilstad) Jensen. She graduated from Cambridge High School, and from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in speech therapy.
She married David J. Blanchard September 29, 1943. They moved to David's home town of Edgerton, Wisconsin, where he practiced law. David was elected as a Republican to the Wisconsin State Assembly representing Rock County's 2nd Assembly district in 1954. At the time of his death, he was speaker of the Assembly.
Legislative career She was first elected to the Assembly in 1963 in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of David Blanchard. She was the first Wisconsin woman to be elected to the Legislature via a special election, and re-elected in 1964, 1966, and 1968. On August 30, 1969, she married Malcolm V. Allen in her home in Edgerton. In 1970, while easily winning her primary, she was defeated in the general election by Democrat Janet Soergel Mielke by 63 votes (5824 votes to 5761).The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1971 Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 1971; pp. 304, 321 She attempted to unseat Mielke in 1972, but fell short by a wider margin in what was now the 47th Assembly district. Theobald, H. Rupert & Robbins, Patricia V., eds. The state of Wisconsin 1973 Blue Book Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 1973; p. 827
After the legislature For 24 years she lived in Evansville where she and Malcolm operated Allen Funeral Home. He died on May 16, 1987.Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970, Biographical Sketch of Carolyn Blanchard Allen, p. 62. Allen died on October 9, 2018, in Cambridge, Wisconsin, at the age of 97.Madison.com Local Obits: Allen, Carolyn Blanchard
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