Alan McClelland Larimer,

Born June 29, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio, Alan’s life was one rooted in the pursuit of knowledge and dedicated to service, to his patients, his community, and his country. Alan attended Granville High School and Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. He went on to attend Denison University for his undergraduate degree, and both Duke and Dartmouth Medical Schools to complete his medical education. Alan then proudly served in the United States Navy where he trained as a Flight Surgeon at the U.S. Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Fl and was then stationed in both Johnstown and Hatboro, Pa and finally being assigned at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Alan reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander before returning to civilian life to complete his medical residency.

Alan’s residency and career in orthopedics began at both Temple University and Shriner’s Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. As an orthopedic surgeon, Alan spent many years putting people back together after injuries and accidents, always approaching his work with skill, precision, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to his patient’s best interest. Always humble in describing his work, Alan would often simply respond with “I fix bones” when asked what he did for a living.

Known for his wonderful bedside manner, Alan had a natural charm that made him easy for patients to talk to and deeply trusted by both those in his care and those he worked with. Alan built thriving private practices in both Fredonia, NY, and Ironwood, MI before transitioning to full time locum tenens work, where he found great joy in traveling to remote destinations with opportunities to explore and learn while also providing care to those in need across the country. Alan did locum tenens work for over 10 years until he retired, he described those years as some of the happiest and most fulfilling of his career.

In his retirement, Alan enjoyed attending reunions from his medical alma maters where he got to reconnect with his two lifelong close friends, Ted Tapper and Leonard Skerker who he met while attending Dartmouth Medical School. Alan cherished their friendship throughout his life.

Outside of his profession, Alan was married to his beloved wife of nearly eight years, Jo-Anne Geiger. Their connection was rooted in their mutual love of books where they met in Jo-Anne’s bookstore, Readers’ Garden, and together they enjoyed years of reading, cooking, and traveling.

Alan was a proud father to his three daughters, Celine, Meredith, and Adrienne. He took great pleasure in finding scholarly articles tailored to each of their unique interests, always eager to share knowledge and foster meaningful conversations. He enjoyed finding new ways to make his daughters laugh and inspiring them to continue to learn and pursue their own passions.

Alan shared a special bond with his siblings, Enid and James. Their unique senses of humor, inherited from their cherished parents, Alan McClure and Mary Catherine Short Larimer, was an important bond for the siblings and a lasting source of joy and laughter.

Alan is also sadly missed by his devoted protector Valley, his rescued Rhodesian Ridgeback, who stood guard at his side in the last months of his life and was with him in his last moments.

His surviving family includes his wife, Jo-Anne Geiger of Granville, Ohio; daughters, Celine Larimer (Eddie Bumstead) of Boston, MA; Meredith Larimer (Allen Clarke) of Seattle, WA; and Adrienne Larimer (Ethan Lindell) of Cortland, NY. Grandchildren, Finn Larimer Bumstead of Boston, MA, Rowan Stenning, and Sophie Stenning of Seattle, WA. Siblings Enid Roehrner (Richard) of Palmview, Texas and James Larimer (Mary) of Granville, Ohio. He is also survived by many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews hailing from all over the country that Alan loved to travel.

A true lifelong learner, Alan had an insatiable curiosity and a love for collecting books and films in various formats. Alan spent many hours curating his collections, enjoying the thrill of finding a new and rare title to add, the quest for knowledge in continuing his education as a Community Scholar taking courses at Denison University until the last few months of his life. Alan had eclectic tastes in all that he enjoyed from the gooseberries and mushrooms he grew in the garden, to the classes he enrolled in, and the locations he wanted to explore. Alan’s knowledge was vast, his conversations engaging, and his generosity to share that knowledge knew no bounds. Whether offering a helping hand to a neighbor, sharing a rare find from his collection, or simply lending an attentive ear, Alan’s presence left a lasting impact on those who had the opportunity to truly know him.

His memory will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. In honor of Alan’s spirit, may we all continue to learn, to give, and to find joy in the simple pleasures of life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Licking County Food Pantry, The Licking County Humane Society, or any causes that reflect the passions that defined his life such as the local community garden, or library.

A private ceremony for family and close friends will also be held at a later date at the family burial site at Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville.

Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra to share a memory about Alan or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Alan and his family.