Alan Stewart Kilian

Alan S. Kilian, age 82 of Sherwood, WI passed away due to stage 4 cancer on March 18, 2026.  He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI.  Thank you for all the prayers.

He was born on May 7, 1943 in New London, WI; the son of Vernon F. and E r n a (Fehling) Kilian.  Alan was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church, Sugar Bush, WI and was confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church (1957), and graduated from New London (Washington) High School in 1961.  Alan met his wife, Marilyn, as both were attendants at his cousin’s Lee (Dorothy) Dallmann wedding in 1961. 

Alan and Marilyn were married on September 28, 1963 at St. James Lutheran Church, Shawano, WI.  They were blessed with 62 years of marriage.  They moved to Neenah, WI in 1966 and Alan became a police officer (‘69) with the City of Neenah Police Dept. and joined the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Dept. (‘71) retiring as a detective after 28 ½ years of service.  He attended Smith and Wesson Armorer School in Springfield, MA and the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD for fire/arson investigation and was associated with the Winnebago Country Fireman’s Association/WFFA and developed strong ties with many of the volunteer departments throughout Winnebago County.  After retirement, he became a member of the Appleton Rifle and Pistol Club.

Music was addictive for Alan and he was affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians, Local 205 (Green Bay) as a gold card member and trustee.  Throughout the years, Alan played drums in both Country: Walt Hess and the Rimshots, Big Dave and the Country Rebels, Nashville Sounds, Shelby County and Rock and Roll: Mary Jane and the Stingrays, Black Knights, VIP’s, Still Cruisin’, and Bobby Rivers Live.  (These were the bands he played with the longest.)  He also played with many local and road bands for one-two night fill-in’s.  At age 65, he began playing guitar.  He played publicly for private party’s and nursing homes as a solo.  He retired playing publicly in 2020 due to COVID.  

He enjoyed the monthly breakfasts with the guys from the ‘57 confirmation class and the neighborhood Romeo’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) on Thursday mornings.

Alan is survived by his wife; Marilyn (nee Erdmann); children: Karen K. (Joe) Kangas and Kristin K. (Shawn) McClintock,  grandson; Jack Kangas, all of Appleton, WI.  Nephew Timothy (Peg) Churchwell, Alexandria, MN and grand nieces Delaney, St. Paul, MN and Megan, New Orleans LA.  Cousins:  Gloria (Bob) Lorenz, Buffalo Grove, IL, Lee Dallman, Appleton, WI and of course, his favorite second cousin:  Karen Gruetzman.

Alan is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon (2003) and E r n a (1994) Kilian, In-laws Kurt (1991) and Rena (2002) Erdmann.  Sister, Bonnie Jean (2023) Churwell and brother-in-law Don (2009) and nephew Jeffrey (2014) Churchwell.  Cousin Dale (1995)/wife, Donna (2021) Dallmann, and Dorothy (2021) Dallman.  Bill (2024) Gruetzman.

The memorial service for Alan will be held on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2220 E. College Ave., Appleton.  A time of visitation will be held on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.  For online condolences please visit www.verkuilenfh.com

Thank you to our family physician, Dr. Aditya Rangbulla, Pastor, Timothy Seabaugh.  Thank you to Dan Thorne for visits and calls through all the years.  Thank you to Compassus Hospice and Brewster Village for all the care.   Thank you to my wife, “You are my angel.”

A memorial is being established in Alan’s name.