Alan Gene Thomas

Alan Gene Thomas, age 61, of Arapahoe, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, November 7th, 2024, at home surrounded by family and caretakers. Memorial services will be held at 2pm, Saturday, November 23rd, 2024, at the Arapahoe Methodist Church in Arapahoe, Nebraska; and at 2pm, Friday, November 29th, 2024, at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth, Nebraska. 

Alan was born February 16, 1963, in Bassett, Nebraska to Ellen and (Jerry) Chan Thomas. He was raised in Ainsworth, Nebraska and attended Ainsworth Public Schools from Kindergarten through graduation in 1981. He enjoyed Punt/Pass/Kick in elementary where he won trophies, and participated in football and wrestling in high school. He enjoyed hunting with his dad, Chan. He worked many years for Chet Wilkins who became a father figure to Alan after Chan passed away. He graduated from Southeast Community College at Milford in Diesel Mechanics. He was united in marriage to Suzanne Morgan on June 1, 1985, in Cambridge, Nebraska. To this union two children were born: Hollie Jacqueline and Ian Parker. The couple lived in Ainsworth, Nebraska; Jacksonville, Florida; Wichita, Kansas; and Arapahoe, Nebraska. Alan’s careers included farming, selling commercial tires, and working in ag banking. He was a graduate of the Colorado School of Banking in 1999. Alan was united in marriage to Heidi Jones on June 16, 2006, and most recently celebrated their 18-year wedding anniversary. Together they loved to visit their kids, attend local sporting events, share chicken wings, and enjoy time with his family of caretakers. 

Alan was proud of his Sandhills roots. He loved telling stories from times working on the farm, hunting adventures, and all of his most memorable reffing stories on and off the mat. Alan was a wrestling referee for 16 years and enjoyed the camaraderie shared with coaches and refs. He spoke highly of the Nebraska wrestling community. 

Alan loved being present at his children’s events as they were growing up in the Arapahoe community. Hollie and Ian remember his love for finger drumming in the car while jamming to country music, his enjoyment talking and laughing on the phone with friends, storm chasing, grilling, hunting, taking them fishing and always having the best snacks tucked away that he of course thought were hidden. He enjoyed annual family reunions at the Calamus Reservoir and spending time this past summer at the Arapahoe splash pad with his grandson Nolan.

Though Alan spent many years of his life struggling to overcome neurological diseases, his zest for life, fun and smiling never ceased. As his mobility began to deteriorate, he traded in hunting deer for hunting bigfoot. He loved his family, friends and chocolate chip cookies. His sense of humor and perfectly timed comebacks will be greatly missed.

Left to cherish his memory are his mother Ellen (Charlie) Kyser; brother Bob (Lori) Thomas and children: Jacob, Miles, and Shelby; daughter Hollie (John) Lepak and grandson Nolan of Papillion; son Ian of Kearney; wife, Heidi, of Arapahoe; stepdaughter Toni (Mike) Lenox and children: Jude, River, Xyla, Evie, and Ellie; stepson Jesse (Hanna) Metzler and children: Finn and Billy; stepson Josh (Mitch) Metzler; stepson Jeffery Adam; his Dad's sister Edith (Roger) Wentworth of Springview, Nebraska, and his Mother's brother Terry (Connie) Hazard of Elkhorn, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews. 

Alan was preceded in death by his grandparents Grace and Walter Hazard; grandparents Verne and Glen Thomas; father, (Jerry) Chan Thomas, and his sister, Sherry Thomas.

Memorials are suggested to the wrestling programs in the Arapahoe-Holbrook Public Schools, or Ainsworth Public Schools.