Alan R. West

MADISON - Alan West, known to his friends simply as “Al” passed away on Friday, April 3, 2026, surrounded by family, after a brief and sudden illness. Al was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer the last week of February and declined very quickly.

Al was born to Roberta (Powers) and Kenneth West in 1951. He grew up on a farm in Oregon and attended Oregon Public Schools After high school, Al joined the army and served several years as a missile crewman at the Hahn Air Base in Germany. After completing his service, Al attended Wisconsin School of Electronics and received his Associate Degree in Electronics. He then spent 45 years working as an electronic technician for the United States Postal Service and forged many long-lasting friendships with the night-shift crew working at the Milwaukee Street post office. A weekend shift was never complete until they headed to the bowling alley for an 8:00 a.m. Monday morning round of Bloody Mary’s and a game of tenpins.

Al was a vibrant and energetic soul. Often referred to as “the energizer bunny” and “a spark of life,” Al filled his life with countless activities. From his early days in baseball and bowling leagues, to many years of motorcycle riding and skydiving, Al was always on the go. For many years, he was an active skydiver, marking over 3000 jumps from various aircraft. He was proud of participating on world record skydiving formations and loved the weekly jumping camaraderie with his local Seven Hills Skydivers.  

In 2020, Al eventually retired from the post office and turned all of his energies to daily bike riding throughout the city, often riding 40+ miles a day. He hit his goal of riding 8000 miles in 2025 alone. Every year, he marked his August birthday by completing a “birthday ride,” biking his age in number of miles. Last August 5th, he rode his 74-mile birthday ride. He was unstoppable. Biking was the wind in his sail, his spirit, his obsession. He shared many of these rides with his family, but mostly with his son who acquired the same love for biking from his dad.

At home, Al was the loving father of Žiema and Moze and delighted in being a dad. He was an active participant in their lives and was the dad who dropped his kids off at elementary school on the motorcycle. He was an amazing cook and rode his bicycle on a daily basis to his beloved Willy Street Co-op where he was a member for over 50 years. There he shopped for all his organic ingredients to create healthy meals for his kids every day. Žiema and Moze grew up with the Willy Street Co-op family, from their earliest days of being carried around in a backpack while picking out fresh produce with dad. Willy Street was Al’s and his kids’ stomping ground.  

Al loved to dance, and for many years danced in Madison’s Lithuanian folk dance group, Žaibas. He had married into a Lithuanian family and culture, and then generously continued to support, celebrate, and participate in Madison’s Lithuanian community for years. He performed with his extended Lithuanian family in Madison’s annual International Folk Festival at the Overture Center and learned to cook vegetarian versions of their favorite Lithuanian dishes.

During the last 18 years, Al found so much joy serving as a volunteer usher at the Overture Center. He was a prolific volunteer, and in 2021 was offered a paid position as lead usher. The Overture Center and the staff there meant everything to Al. He enjoyed giving tours, meeting and greeting students on school field trips, directing buses, educating guests about the history of Overture, watching the shows, and simply being an ambassador to all things Overture. The building, the staff, the volunteers, the performances, and the energy of the Overture Center was simply everything to Al. He was a legend there. His family would like to thank the Overture family for enveloping Al into their midst.

Al will be sorely missed by family members, Žiema (Matas), Moze, and Asta; sister Sue (Dean) and brother Ron; as well as many cousins, nephews, and nieces. He was our ray of sunshine.

A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026.  

For more information and online condolences, please visit www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420