Allan D. Holiday, age 93, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, October 25th, 2026. A Memorial Service will be held at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, 9300 Nall Overland Park, Kansas on Saturday, November 21st at 10am.
Allan was born to Ralph and Jean Holiday in Carthage, Missouri on February 2, 1933. Allan had fond childhood memories of adventures outside with his brother Bill and taking summer trips to visit his grandparents in Vancouver Island British Columbia. After graduating from Carthage High School, he attended Missouri School of Mines in Rolla where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and graduated with honors in Chemical Engineering. He worked briefly with Phillips Petroleum Co. in Bartlesville, OK before reporting to the US Navy in Newport, RI, where he was commissioned as an officer, and was selected to attend the US Naval Intelligence school in Washington, DC. Upon graduating, he served as an Intelligence Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Squadron VS-38, training in Coronado, CA before deploying aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton for duty with the Seventh Fleet in the Far East. On completion of his service obligation, Allan began his career starting with employment by Phillips Petroleum Co., later working for Gulf Oil Corp., the Nofsinger Co., and the last thirty years with Farmland Industries. He served in various engineering and technical management positions including Vice President - R&D, with Farmland Industries. He was the author of thirty-five technical articles and publications. He also wrote professionally for McGraw Hill, Inc. He was an active member of various trade associations, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the American Chemical Society. Over a career of fifty years, he became the inventor of sixteen U.S. Patents and two foreign patents. He served with the Office of Technology Assessment as a science and technology advisor to the United States Congress. Following retirement from Farmland he worked in a consulting capacity for JP Morgan Chase and Farmland Industries for five years.
Allan and his wife Lyn were married in Joplin, MO on Dec 29, 1956, and began their married life in Coronado, CA while in the Navy. They lived most of their lives in Overland Park where they raised their three children. In retirement they continued to be active at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church with Allan serving two terms as Deacon and volunteered in the church’s Friendship Garden. Allan was a skilled marksman and enjoyed hunting in his earlier years. He was an avid downhill skier, making annual Colorado trips into his seventies. Allan and Lyn loved traveling and had many adventures with friends and family. They enjoyed gardening together and built a beautiful backyard haven that featured his carpentry skills with handmade benches, a trellis, and arbor. Their garden was even featured in the 1998 book “Great Gardens of Kansas City”. Allan loved going to lunch with his ROMEO (retired old men eating out) group, entertaining, and hosting family and friends for special events. He was admired, respected, and loved by his family.
Allan was predeceased by his loving wife Lyn, his parents, his brother William G. Holiday, his son Tad Holiday and daughter-in-law Mary Moorehouse. He is survived by his son, John Holiday (Dana), and their children, Patrick, Eva (Joe) and Alex; his daughter, Heidi VanLandingham (Don), and their children, Ryan (Jessie) and Drew; and his grandson, Jarrod Holiday (Cammie); and two great-grandsons, Allan and Levi VanLandingham.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Friendship Garden, Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church.
