Obituary of Alan Roger Exley

Alan Roger Exley, 71, of Newton, Iowa, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2025, with his loving wife by his side.

Alan was born on October 20, 1954, in Osceola, Iowa, to Emil Dean Exley and Dolores Marie James. He grew up in Colfax, Iowa, and graduated from Colfax High School in 1972. After graduation, Alan briefly worked for Monroe Company before beginning a long and dedicated 30-year career at Maytag, where he started on the line and later worked in inspections before retiring in 2003. Never one to sit still, he continued to work after retirement—serving as a janitor for Newton Schools and a rest stop on Interstate 80, and working for Randstad Temp Agency.

On September 28, 1996, Alan married the love of his life, Laura Ann Larson, in Humboldt, Iowa. Together they built a life full of love, laughter, and devotion.

Alan had a deep love for sports, especially his beloved Kansas City Chiefs. He was also a music enthusiast who enjoyed the sounds of classic rock from the 1970s. He had a fun and colorful personality that matched his love of wearing tie-dye clothing—a style that reflected his easygoing spirit and love of life. One of his greatest joys was attending his sons’ sporting events—always their biggest fan in the stands. At home, Alan could often be found relaxing in his favorite recliner with his cat, Ollie, content and happy.

He is survived by his wife, Laura; his sons, Troy Exley of Lakewood, CO, and Trent Exley of Newton, IA; his brothers, Steven (Rhonda) Schuman-Exley of Mt. Vernon, IA, Clifton Exley (Ernest Matos) of Canton, NC, and Burton Exley of Newton, IA; sisters-in-law Christine (Dan) Freund of Humboldt, IA, Sandra Bohan of Des Moines, IA, and Deann Hannigan of Tulsa, OK; his mother-in-law, Nancy Larson of Fort Dodge, IA; several nieces and nephews; and his cherished cat, Ollie.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Thomas Larson; best friend, Mike McVay; and several aunts and uncles.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., prior to the service. A luncheon will follow at the Pence-Reese Tribute Center.

In celebration of Alan’s vibrant spirit, guests are warmly encouraged to wear tie-dye to the service or luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Alan’s name to a charity of your choice.