05/07/2024
Alan Rest departed this life on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, surrounded by family and dear friends. Alan was born August 12, 1947 in Chicago, Ill. and later adopted by Karl and Ruth Rest of Detroit, Mich.
Karl Rest, a pastor, relocated the family several times including to Tonawanda, NY. where Alan was a track and field standout athlete at Tonawanda Senior High. Throughout his high school career Alan set multiple records and went on to train for the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City although he never competed.
He attended Lakeland University in Sheboygan, Wis. before enlisting in the U.S. Army where he was trained as an X-ray technician at Ft. Sam Houston. The Army explained to those in X-ray school that if they failed the course they would be sent to Vietnam to be a combat medic so Alan applied himself and graduated at the top of his class, earning him the right to choose where he would go for on-the-job training. He chose Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the Washington D.C. area where he excelled in the field while also meeting some important figures of the time including Dwight D. Eisenhower, whom he came to know on a first name basis.
Alan’s next assignment took him to Stuttgart, Germany where he continued to do well in his career but also enjoyed traveling, learning to ski and seeing many famous rock bands in the beginning stages of their careers including the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Eric Clapton. But Alan’s favorite activity while stationed at Stuttgart was traveling to the Frankfurt, Germany airport with fellow soldiers looking for American girls to date.
Upon returning to the United States, Alan decided to head west and landed in Denver, where a friend had just opened the first discotheque in the city, which sparked an interest for him. Alan got a day job as an X-ray technician and worked as a discotheque disc jockey at night. When the burnout got to him, Alan decided to focus on the business, building and construction of nightclubs and was instrumental in the opening of the infamous Homer’s Odyssey discotheque in Colorado Springs, where he remained for several years. He was also employed by The Broadmoor in different capacities at The Tavern, Spec’s Spot, The Golden Bee and The Penrose Room as well as manyyears at another Colorado Springs restaurant. Alan also tried his hand at running his own restaurant, which he opened in Pueblo, CO. before turning to residential real estate as his final career.
Alan’s lasting legacy and most proud accomplishment is his son, Kolin, who survives him. He is also survived by his sister, Martha, several cousins, nieces, and nephews and Kolin’s aunt and uncle, Kristil and Brad Padula.
Alan was a man of strong faith and believed God put him in a position to speak to others about the impact of having God in your life. He said it took him many years to know God in His entirety, but it was a very meaningful journey.
A Celebration of Life for Alan will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 at Peak City Church, 1710 Dublin Blvd.with Pastor Petie Kinder presiding. A private military burial with full honors will take place at Pikes Peak National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Alan’s name maybe made to the Blue Angels Foundation to support our nation’s wounded warriors and their families at blueangelsfoundation.orgor Peak City Church, peakcityco.com.
Blue Angels Foundation - Located in Pensacola, Florida - Honoring our nation's heroes and committed to supporting wounded warriors.
