Alan Paul Dismuke

Alan P. Dismuke, 71, died in his home on May 15, 2025. His wife, Jules Westreich, and a few of his many friends were at his bedside when he passed peacefully after struggling many years with the lingering effects of a devastating stroke in 2017. Alan was born in Toledo, Ohio on May 28, 1953, the second child of Albert Dismuke and Lois M (Fournier) Dismuke.

Alan grew up in Perrysburg Township and attended Saturday morning art classes at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) learning theory and technique and most importantly wandering the galleries of the Museum. In 2011, it all came full circle, when he won the TMA Annual Toledo Artists Exhibition Best in Show award for his digital photo “Couple 736_diptych”. Alan graduated from Cardinal Stritch High School in 1971. This is when Alan became familiar with design and photography while working on the high school newspaper as well as designing posters for local rock concerts. He worked in a shop in Toledo where he learned the jewelry making and leather crafts. Alan also created ‘light shows’ for local bands. In 1973, the family moved to Colorado and Alan continued to feed his creative soul with crafts work. Ten years later Alan moved to California first to Humboldt County and then, in 1993, to Sacramento. Alan made his living running galleries and working for arts organizations all the while pursuing his art and building a body of work, focusing on “gender performance”.

Alan is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Sue Love, and his brother, Michael A. Dismuke. Surviving in addition to his wife, Jule Westreich, are sisters Linda Scheanwald, Cindy Treharne, Beth Lewis (Mike) and a brother, Mark Dismuke (Amy); multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.

Alan will be remembered by his family and friends as a talented, passionate and creative soul. Alan cared about doing the ‘right’ thing and doing what he could to see the folks doing the wrong thing were called out.

“The purpose of my art is to confuse the enemy.” From a Seattle artist friend of Alan’s.