Alan A. Thompson, 63, of Chicago, died July 20, 2025 at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, a year after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He was born April 19, 1962, in Kansas City, Kansas to Max and Marjorie Thompson (both teachers). He lived with them and his younger brother, Gary, in Bonner Springs, Kansas, until 1967, when they moved to Davenport, Iowa. Alan attended Adams and Garfield Elementary Schools, J.B. Young Junior High School, and Davenport Central High School, where he graduated in 1980.

Growing up, Alan was passionate about sports, becoming a loyal fan of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, and Chicago Blackhawks. He took up golf at an early age, playing his entire life. He also competed with his brother and friends in a variety of informal sports, like backyard football and baseball, driveway basketball, and basement hockey. He showed an early interest in broadcasting, creating at-home radio shows with his brother—they'd take turns playing DJ (with real records!), writing/delivering newscasts, and writing/reading commercials, recording their efforts on cassette tape.

In 1984, Alan graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, having worked at WSUI radio in Iowa City and KCRG TV in Cedar Rapids while in college. His early career in radio and TV news took him all over the country, including stops in Muscatine, Iowa; the Quad Cities; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Columbus, Ohio; Tampa, Florida; Des Moines, Iowa; Huntington, West Virginia, and Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1998, he became a morning news writer and producer at CBS News Chicago, a job he held for 27 years. Alan's work ethic was an inspiration to his coworkers and he shared his experience and wisdom with younger writers. They especially appreciated his sense of humor and his ability to make them laugh with #GrandpaStories and "All right everybody, let's look alive!". Twice Alan was proud to be part of an Emmy-award-winning team in 2014 and 2021. To watch the broadcast of Alan's tribute, click here .

In 2005, Alan met Beth Mengel on eHarmony. Among other things, the couple bonded over a shared love of cats—they would go on to welcome several into their family over the years. While on a date early in their courtship, Alan frequently checked his watch-–a newsroom habit. Beth said she felt like he wasn't paying attention to her, and Alan immediately took off his watch, put it in his pocket, and never wore it again. When Alan married Beth in 2006, he became a parent to Beth's two children, Bethany and Cody. Recently when Cody told Alan that he is a great dad, Alan responded, "I AM a great dad. And modest too."

Alan is survived by his wife, Beth; their children, Bethany Uriostegui (Joe Saltarelli) of Chicago, and Cody Uriostegui (Chanel Roche) of Los Angeles; his brother, Gary Thompson (Kris) of Urbandale, Iowa; a nephew, John Thompson of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces Grace Haney and Emma Haney of West Des Moines, Iowa.

Memorial donations can be made in Alan's memory to Orphans of the Storm.