Alan Gick Eades

Alan Gick Eades, 92, of Fish Creek, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2024, at his home which overlooks Green Bay in Fish Creek.

Alan was born March 13, 1932, in Fort Hayes, KS, the only son of J. Harry and Anna Esther (Gick) Eades. At a very young age, his mother tragically died, and Harry's second wife Doris was an extremely caring mother to Alan. The family later moved to Colorado, and the leadership qualities for which Alan was known for his entire life bloomed at Fort Collins High School.  Prior to graduation in 1950, Alan spearheaded "Club Tico." He and his classmates canvased the town and raised $15,000 to establish the town’s youth center for teens to gather and socialize.

Alan graduated from Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) in 1954 and earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. During his four years of college, he was one of twelve Pacemakers appointed, served as president for both the Board of Publications and of Kappa Mu Epsilon, was vice president of the Chemistry Club, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, was a medaled track athlete and held records for decades in high hurdling. In the Air Force ROTC, he achieved cadet lieutenant colonel. Alan played an integral part in creating the “Senate System,” which made their student government more democratic and provided a voice to non-Greek students and veterans who were attending college on the G.I. Bill. Prior to joining the U.S. Air Force, which he served for three years and was captain, Alan married his former wife, and they had two children, Thomas Eades and Dianna Eades Ashenden. He subsequently served five more years as captain in the Air Force Reserves.

During his successful business career, Alan utilized his skills in engineering, sales and marketing, and rose to Director of Field Sales at Monsanto, St. Louis; Vice President of Sales at Union Tank Car Company, Chicago; and Vice President of Sales at Pullman Company, Chicago.

In 1977, Alan married Virginia Hynes, and spent their time between Inverness, IL, Palm Beach, FL and Fish Creek, WI. Together, Alan and Virginia were quite a social couple and joined the Inverness Golf Club and The University Club, Chicago. He and Virginia loved to dance - often closing out the night as the last couple on the dance floor at the Bath & Tennis Club, and the Everglades Club in Palm Beach.  Alan also enjoyed his memberships at the Four Arts Club, The Palm Beach Yacht Club, and felt very honored to be President of the Silverbacks of Palm Beach. His philanthropic work continued as a member and president of the Royal Park Homeowner’s Association, a group overseeing redevelopment of Royal Park. In Door County, Alan enjoyed Horseshoe Bay Golf Club and served on the board of Birch Creek Music Performance Center where he reorganized and set up a system of committees.

Throughout their 47 years of marriage, Alan and Virginia traveled the world and particularly loved sailing across the seas from Florida to the Bahamas, as well as the waters of Lake Michigan, referring to themselves as “Gypsies of the Seas.” Alan had a great fascination for anything with a motor, including cars, trains and planes. His family and friends appreciated his prowess for scouring the automobile marketplace for the best deals on cars. When Alan attended the Indy 500 - or any car race, he had an uncanny knack for identifying which car was racing down the track by the sound of its engine before it even came into sight. While out and about, he could look at any car and identify the make, model, and year. Another interest of Alan’s was watching documentaries on WWII and discussing war history with friends.

Alan will be dearly missed by his wife, Virginia Eades; son, Thomas (Suzanne) Eades; daughter, Dianna Ashenden; stepsons, Christopher (Carole) Hynes, Peter (Laura) Hynes; stepdaughter, Virginia (Matthew) Hanson; granddaughters, Emma Eades, Charlotte Eades; step-granddaughters Sarah (Jake) Krabbe, Haley (Bart) Bonnivier, Claire (James) Haupt, Grace Hynes; grandsons, Jake Ashenden, Max Ashenden; step-grandsons Sean (Lizzie) Hynes, Nelson Hanson; and step-great-grandson, Henry Krabbe.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Anna Eades; stepmother, Doris Eades; stepsons, Barry Hynes and Brian Hynes; and his beloved puppy, Mishka.

Alan's life will be honored with a funeral service on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 1:30pm, at Blossomberg Cemetery in Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, with Pastor Gary Scharrig, officiating.

Memorials may be given in Alan's name to Birch Creek Music Performance Center on the Support page (Birchcreek.org/Support). Designate "In Memory of Alan Eades" in Comments.

Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Sister Bay is assisting the Eades family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Alan may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.

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