Alan Raines

Rev. Alan Grant Raines, age 76, of Allendale, passed peacefully at his earthly home and entered into his heavenly home on Saturday, December 7, 2024. He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Marsha (Tab) Brownlee, Laura Raines, Virginia (Brandon) Micho; grandchildren, Nathan Alan, Arthur Jay Alan, and Oliver Grant; siblings, Dennis Raines, Kathleen Raines, Sharon (Larry) Smith; and many cherished extended family members. Alan was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Nancy; and parents, Burton and Lydia Raines. He was born in Buffalo, New York. He attended Attica Central High School and while in high school he worked on a dairy farm and was a member of Future Farmers of America where he placed first in seed identification in the state of NY. He had also worked for the Fisher-Price Toy Company while in high school. Alan proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for nearly five years. He was stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, KS, where he met Nancy. They married and upon completion of military service they moved to Western, NY, where Alan graduated from Houghton College and pastored at Freedom Baptist and Rushford Baptist Churches. He and his family moved to Michigan in 1979 where he attended the Grand Rapids Baptist Theological Seminary. Alan worked for the Jonathan and David/Precious Moments Co. when it had first began in Grand Rapids. One of the many things he did there was to travel and share the stories behind the tear-dropped figurines. He later worked for many years at International Aid in Spring Lake, coordinating shipments for disaster relief locally and around the world, amongst other meaningful work for him that he did there. He then worked at Spectrum Health Hospital doing patient transport and finished his working years in his hometown at Walgreens. Wherever Alan worked or would go, he ministered to people with his kind and caring spirit. People often said of Alan, he always seemed to have the right words of wisdom, a God-given gift to help people in their time of need. Alan was generous in helping others and sharing of his time and of his gardens and in giving of anything he could if someone needed it. Alan's favorite hobbies included growing flowers, gardening vegetables, fruit trees and Christmas Trees. He very much enjoyed attending local short track races, being a member of a couple car clubs, and a part of the planning committee for the annual Allendale Fourth of July Car Show. He enjoyed being a greeter at Life Stream Church for many years. A great joy in his life was having been able to watch his grandsons grow up to become teenagers. A funeral service will be held Friday, December 13, 2024, at 11 am at Life Stream Church, 6561 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale, 49401 with Pastor Chris Carroll officiating. Burial will take place at Allendale Township Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Thursday, December 12, from 5-8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Allendale) 6651 Scott St., 49401 as well as 10-10:45 am on Friday at church prior to the service. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Life Stream Church- Ripple Effect Ministry.