Richard John Alland

Richard John Alland 1954 - 2025
It is with profound sadness that our family shares the news of the passing of Richard "Rick" Alland, 71, in his Pasco County home on November 7, 2025. Rick had struggled with health issues for a long time and is now finally at peace.
Rick was born September 23, 1954, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to his parents, William "Larry" Alland and Margaret Mary Bissen Alland; he was the 4th of 7 children. He was a feisty kid and usually the first to get into trouble, though if you asked him, he never did anything wrong; he was just exercising his rights to free speech and spontaneous decision-making.
Rick's early education was in La Crosse, at Blessed Sacrament School for elementary grades and Central High School through the end of his junior year, when in 1971, his parents and 4 of their children moved to Odessa, Florida. In 1972, Rick graduated from Gulf Comprehensive High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
While working with his dad and brothers in Larry Alland and Sons, Rick gained carpentry skills in home building and would later build his own home from the ground up. In the 1980's, while working for his aunt, Mariece Bissen, co-owner of a Tampa interior design firm, he found that his specialty (and truly his passion and gift) was woodworking and custom furniture building.
In his law enforcement career, Rick worked for 3 different agencies: the Tampa Police Department and the Treasure Island Police Department, both as a patrol officer. Subsequently, he worked many years for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) as a patrol deputy and later as a detective in the Warrants Division. Throughout his tenure with PCSO, he brought his woodworking skills to the job, fitting out the Sheriff's mobile unit with display cases and storage cabinets, participating in the design and construction of PCSO's Safety Town, and working from his home workshop where he built whatever PCSO needed until his retirement.
Rick was independent and opinionated. Quick-witted and intelligent, he knew a great deal about pretty much everything and wasn't shy about sharing his expertise. He had his own way of doing things but always got the job done, and the outcomes were spectacular.
He loved his many nephews and nieces, and for them, he was a caring and attentive uncle with unlimited patience. To everyone he knew, he was quiet, generous, supportive, and always willing to help someone in need.
Rick struggled with health issues, including arthritis, which limited his mobility for many years. His nephew Brian Shay and wife Patty and their 2 kids came to live with him in 2010, which turned out to be his lifeline, especially as his health declined and he was unable to care for the house or himself. They have been his close and devoted family for over 15 years and cared for him to the end. Our family is incredibly grateful for their loving care.
He is survived by his sisters Mary Simonis (Larry) of Green Bay, WI, Pat McLaughlin (Dave) of Sun City, AZ, Kay Shay of Houston, MN, and Eileen Gilley (Mike) of Palm Harbor, FL, and brother Greg (Linda) of Lyman, SC, and 21 nieces and nephews, and 33 grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his brother, Christopher "Chris" Alland.
We will be honoring his final wishes of not having a funeral service or graveside burial ceremony. We are planning a Celebration of Life gathering, date to be determined. Announcements will be published on the www.internationalcremation.com website.
Rest in peace, Brother and Uncle, His devoted family To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Richard, please visit our Tree Store.