Alan James Trusler

Born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 29, 1955, Alan passed away peacefully at the age of 70 on Oct. 8, 2025, surrounded by family at his home in Spokane, Wash.

Alan began his life in Van Nuys, Calif., where he lived with his father, Noel, his mother, Lucretia, and his sister, Tia. In his youth, Alan was active in both the Boy Scouts  of America and in Demolay International where he met his life-long friend Garrison Russell.

In the summer of 1975, at the age of 19, Alan and Garrison made the decision to postpone continuing their college education, and instead travel to a budding rural community located 40 miles north of Colville, Wash. There they met with numerous other young individuals who were all seeking a quieter life and searching for deeper meaning. This Cedar Creek community was centered around a piece of property that Dan and LaDonna Henry had recently purchased and Uncle Dan, as he was affectionately known, welcomed these younger individuals and enthusiastically shared with them his Christian faith. Alan spent his time participating in nightly bible studies and busied himself with manual labor work on the community farm. As that initial summer stretched into years, Alan’s faith grew and he became a spiritual mentor in the community. During those early years, Alan met Esther Henry, a niece of Dan Henry. Sharing a common bond of faith, they fell in love and were married in the fall of 1978.

Alan proved quite handy, and in 1979, with little more than a high school woodshop education, he built a home for his family in the growing Cedar Creek community which included a large, detached shop. Within this shop, he and Dan Henry’s son, Dan Henry Jr., began to fabricate stoves, and Aladdin Steel Products was born. Over time, Aladdin Steel grew, and in 1987, Alan moved the business and his family into the town of Colville. Alan’s talent toward the business-side of the company helped elevate him to a position of managing Aladdin Steel as its president. After many years of growing the business in the Colville community, Aladdin Steel reached a point in 1998, where it made sense both financially and for the continued growth of the business to sell it to HON Industries based in Minnesota. Alan worked quite hard during the merger to consider the impact it would have on the Colville community and its workers. In the end, HON Industries agreed to invest in the Colville area by keeping the business local. HON helped finance the construction of a new large, modern manufacturing plant to support the growing business. As part of the deal, Alan also was able to retain and continue most of his previous job functions at the helm of Aladdin Steel which would later become part of Hearth & Home Technologies. Alan loved working in the hearth industry.

Alan was such a generous and charismatic person. His laughter came easily, and his smile was constant and warm. He found joy in bringing people together and often took it upon himself to make gatherings possible. Affectionately known as “Uncle Al” by much of his extended family, he was the kind of person who made everyone feel safe and at ease when he was around. Alan was always considerate of others’ needs and went out of his way to ensure that everyone was having a good time.

He had an uncanny ability to connect with almost anyone he met, quickly turning strangers into friends. Everyone who knew him was drawn to his magnetic personality, his joy for life, and his “pearls of wisdom,” which he generously shared with anyone willing to listen. Alan lived fully – traveling widely, finding joy in every journey, and cherishing the people who shared it with him. He was a devoted father, a loyal friend, and one of the most generous souls you could ever meet.

Alan was a tremendous presence in his community and family. He filled our lives with  warmth, and his lessons will live on in the countless individuals he touched. As Alan often said when raising a glass to loved ones who had gone before him, “Until we meet  again.”

Alan is survived by his wife of 47 years, Esther, his children, son Phil, his wife Caitlin,  daughter Melissa, her husband Chris, daughter Julia, her husband Nick, and his  grandchildren; Ethan, Nolan, Olivia, Jeffrey, Deirdre, and Theodore.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Colville, Wash. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to American Cancer Society in Alan’s name.