Alan Eugene Kuzens

Alan Eugene Kuzens, born August 20, 1945, passed away peacefully after an eight month battle with cancer on April 21, 2020. Al was born in Walla Walla, Washington and was the eldest son of Pearl Kessler. As a child, Al loved to run, ride his bike, play baseball, and look after his younger sisters, Jimmie and Paula. At the age of 18, Al decided to leave Walla Walla and move to Portland, Oregon in pursuit of his love for music.

In Portland, Al met Paul Jones, Jim Mesi, and Dennis Cunningham, fellow musicians who would then come together and form Moxie, a three-chord blues and classic rock band. Al continued his music career into the 70s, eventually forming another band called Brown Sugar. Al was a very talented bass player.

After his music career, Al went to vocational school where he became a skilled electrician. After school, he worked his way up to a supervisor position at OECO.

A Strong Loving Man

Al began his journey with fatherhood when he had his first born son, Anthony in 1987. Shortly after, in 1988, he had his second son Zach, and in the blink of an eye he was blessed with his pride and joy, Nicci, his first born daughter. Al loved being a father to his three children and believed in being a fulltime dad. He invested everything into his children and spent countless hours teaching them to be kind, passionate and gentle. He enjoyed taking them out to explore nature, playing music with them, and making them laugh. He was so proud of them all.

Al is survived by his 97-year-old mother Pearl, his sisters Jimmie and Paula, his children Anthony, Zak, and Nicci, his significant other Brenda Michel, and his five grandchildren.