Alan Glen Grider

Alan Grider, 75, Emporia, Kansas, passed away at Newman Regional Health on Monday, March 10, 2025.

Alan Glenn Grider was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on February 27, 1950, the son of Paul Allan and Mary Jane (Dughman) Grider. Alan is survived by his wife of almost 45 years, Diane VanNatta, whom he married on March 22, 1980, in Raytown, Missouri. Also surviving are his daughters, Brittany Grider (Overland Park, Kansas), Jennifer Langley (Newcastle, Oklahoma), Jessica Palmer (Emporia, Kansas), and his son, Ryan Grider (Overland Park, Kansas); his sister, Christine Grider (Columbia, Missouri); his son-in-law(s), Michael Langley and Shawn Hilbus; his grandchildren, Trey Coffelt, Natalie Palmer, Rylie Palmer, Chace Langley, Ty Langley, Blake Langley, Rhett Langley, and Hazel Langley. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Joyce VanNatta (Kansas City, Missouri). He was preceded in death by Paul and Mary Jane Grider and C. Wayne VanNatta (father-in-law).

He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Emporia, where he served as finance chair and dual parish committee member. Alan received his Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from Kansas State University (Manhattan, Kansas). He was a nuclear engineer working at Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station until he retired 5 years ago.

While there are many attributes that Alan portrayed, one of his biggest ones was patience. Alan would spend hours helping his children with homework, always outsmarting them. In addition, Alan taught all his children, as well as his granddaughter, to drive a vehicle. Alan loved attending his families' extracurricular activities, like sporting games, band concerts, local parades, and the Demolition Derby. Alan's favorite thing was being the primary jokester with his family. He was quick to offer a comeback to his jokes and was as witty as they come.

Alan's hobbies throughout his life included traveling, photography, reading, boating, and water- skiing, to name a few. He traveled to many places within the United States, as well as internationally, like Peru and Europe. Alan always had a camera in his hand, no matter if it was a long international trip or to the family cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks, where his family spent many summer vacations. Alan and his whole family loved the Lake; he taught them to swim, water ski, drive the boat, and fish. Alan enjoyed developing and organizing family photography slides from his childhood, as well as film. Alan kept up with evolving technology well; he had an Excel Spreadsheet or Word Document prepared for any situation that may come up.

Funeral Services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Emporia, Kansas on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. A graveside service will be at the Saint Joseph Memorial Park Cemetery in Saint Joseph, Missouri at 3:00 P.M. The family will receive friends at the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia on Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.

Memorials have been established with Faith Lutheran Church, designated for Lord's Lamb Preschool. Contributions may be sent to the funeral home, PO box #175, Emporia, Kansas 66801.