Date Of Birth: January 23, 1942
Date Of Death: May 5, 2006
H. Lee Trendt, 64, passed away at his home in Carmel IN on May 5, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer.He was born in Janesville on January 23, 1942, to Arthur and Marie (Luyk) Trendt.He graduated from Janesville Senior High School in 1960. He was an accomplished trumpet player in high school and throughout his life. He graduated from General Motors Institute in 1965. His work history consisted of employment with General Motors, Warner Electric Brake and Clutch, Wick Building Systems, Ohmeda, and concluded with AUL/OneAmerica in Indianapolis.His love for God was reflected by the ways in which he gave himself to others. He was a faithful and active member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Milton for over 20 years. In the early 1980s, he sang with the Vesper Voices in southern WI and northern IL. He had been a member of the Cicero IN SDA Church, and most recently he was proud of his role in starting the Carmel Hope Fellowship SDA Church of Carmel IN.Everyone that met him would soon be immersed in his quick wit and sense of humor. His one-line responses would immediately spark a bond with anyone, friend or stranger.He was first married to Norma Trickel in 1962, and they have a son, Timothy Lee Trendt. He later married Mary Lee on May 4, 1995, and they enjoyed 11 years of marriage.He blessed his son at an early age with wonderful fishing memories from family trips to the Wisconsin River. Later in life, he introduced his wife Mary and her son Josh to the beauty and excitement of fishing on the Mississippi River near southwest WI. Even after moving to Indiana, he and Tim continued their annual summertime tradition of fishing on the Mississippi, adding to a wealth of memories that will never be forgotten.He is survived by his wife Mary Trendt of Carmel IN, son Tim Trendt (Diana) of Platteville, stepson Joshua James Lee of Carmel IN, granddaughter Madison Raquel Lee, sister Lois Stratton (Frank) of Janesville, brother Gordon Trendt (Georgiana) of Janesville, several nieces and nephews, many cousins, and an aunt and uncles. He was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts and uncles.A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 3:00pm at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 2130 Mt. Zion Ave., Janesville. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 2:00pm until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carmel Hope Fellowship Church, P.O. Box 4671, Carmel IN, 46082.We will forever miss you being “tired and ornery”.
Gary Linda Hartman and family says
Lee will forever hold a special place in our hearts as we remember all the wonderful years we knew him here in Milton. He will be remembered for the wonderful husband he was to you, Mary, and a very caring and loving father to Tim (Diane) and step-father to
Joshua, and proud Grandpa to Madyson! May you all feel God’s loving arms around you as you mourn your loss.
We love you!
Garry Blockhus says
Tom Covert says
You have my deepest and sincerest sympathies on your loss.
Becky Troy says
Becky Troy says
Tina Williams says
I will always remember Lee’s quick wit that always cheered me up if I was having a bad day at AUL or it put me in an even better mood on a good day. I will never forget the silly songs he used to make up on the fly. He had an uncanny ability to make people laugh. I will miss him very much. My prayers are with your family. I know you will also miss Lee very much.
Linda D Anglin says
You will be sadly missed by all of us at OneAmerica(AUL). You always brought a smile to my face and we had just great times teasing each other. May God be with you, you are in a much better place. Love ya, Linda
Donald Cantrell says
Lee always made me smile. I will miss him.
Linda Spann says
I am truly sorry to hear of the loss of my friend. Lee and I had a good relationship at work. I enjoyed his humor. God is able to comfort all hurts; He is a very present help in times of sorrow. Look to God as you go through this sad time. He will never leave nor forsake you. Lee will be missed. Be blessed!
Jeff Mayer says
It has been many years since I have lived up north close to where Lee lived. However, the few years that I had the privilege and honor of personally knowing Lee, I was so blessed. I’ll never forget the NASB Bible that Lee gave me at my Grandfather’s funeral in 1979. He knew I liked this new version as I had been interested in it and mentioned it to him. He ended up giving what was going to be his Bible to me when he found out how much it meant to me.
This is characteristic of the man that Lee was. He was a very giving person, who always thought of others! I never forget you, Lee! God bless Mary and the rest of the family.
Ed Krysti Pharoah Family says
Mary, we are so saddened with your loss. We thank you both for being such good friends to mom and dad and you are all in our thoughts and prayers. Stay strong and know that Lee is now pain free and enjoying his time with God! We love you guys.
Dixie and Lee Mende says
We sang with Lee in the Vesper Voices a religious music group home based in Rockford, IL. Lee, Lois Elmer, and Joyce Fritz drove down from Milton WI to join the Rockford group. We sang in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin churches and retirement homes. Lee was part of the group when we disband in 1982. We will always remember the times we had with Lee. He not only could sing, but had touching testimonies. He will be missed by many we’re sure.
Dixie and Lee Mende
Gary Kathy Skilton says
Mary, we are so saddened to hear of Lee’s death after such a brave battle with cancer. We have so many fond memories of Lee; his teasing and the way he and Gary had such fun flinging jestful insults at eachother! We had such wonderful experiences singing with him in the Vesper Voices in the early ’80’s. We all are so blessed to have known him and call him our friend. May you find God’s comfort and loving arms around you and your family during this time.
With love,
Gary & Kathy Skilton
Jim Clark and Lois says
All our Love and prayers to you in this hard time. I know God will see you through I wish I could be there to hold your hand Jesus is doing it for me Love Jimmy
Kelly Soley says
Dear Tim and Diana,
My sincere sympathy to you and family members. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kelly
Earl and Doris Mayer says
Mary,what can we say? Earl shed many tears when he heard the news about Lee’s death, from Linda. When we lived in Milton, Lee was one of his best friends. We remember how he came up to our place the night he heard we were moving to South Carolina, even though he had been home sick with the flu, to figuratively “wring” Earl’s neck for leaving him!
The first day Lee came to church in Milton, Earl came up to him and stuttered out a big welcome and Lee would remind him of that because it meant so much to him! We really enjoyed his visit to our home in SC and the fact that he brought along his trumpet and had special music for church. He was a great guy!
We know you, Mary, will miss him so much, as will Josh, Tim and all Lee’s family. God be with you all as you sorrow, but take comfort in the fact that you will see him again
in that Heavenly land where there will be no more heartache or death.
Love and Prayers,
Earl and Doris Mayer
Bobbi Kattau says
My friend no one will forget all the wit and humor… the laughter and smiles we shared along the way …those whose hearts and lives you touched will never be the same,you gave of yourself to the world shining out who you are and warming us in your friendship and love..A priceless treasure I will cherish ALWAYS
Dale Donna Bossenberry says
Dear Mary & Family,
Lee was very special to us. I always felt a closeness between us even though we didn’t get to spend much time together.
The last time I saw Lee was in Madison. I was sitting in Vic Tortorici’s Sabbath School Class, the door was open to the hall, and as I happened to glance out, there was Lee looking at me with a big grin on his face. I went out and we embraced. I guess that’s the way I want to remember Lee.
How precious is the thought that we will see him again. May we all be faithful until that day.
Dale
Reid C Granke says
Mary and Tim,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of your husband (Mary) and your father (Tim). May GOD be with you and comfort you.
I too have lost a friend and grieve his loss also.
Reid
Joyce PeroJohnsrud says
Mary, in working with Lee for 13+ years at Ohmeda, I enjoyed many stories Lee shared of his Family, Fishing, and Faith. He was a ray of sunshine in my life – one of a kind who touched the hearts of all who knew him – even if he was “tired and ornery”! God Bless you and your family and hope that Lee’s wonderful memories help to ease your grief.
Cathy Klann Stresing says
Tim, Diana and family,
We would like to extend to you our most heart felt sympathies at this very difficult time. We hope to see you soon for some merrier times. God Bless!
Chuck, Cathy, Carlos and Claire
Ken Mayer says
My sympathy to Mary and all of the family. Lee has been in my prayers each day for many years. I have many good memories of Lee’s sense of humor, jokes and his smiles. All of us in the Vesper Voices group enjoyed singing with him, and hearing his great voice and listening to his testimonies. Those memories are treasured with the recordings I have of some of the Vesper Voices programs. He will be missed by all, but we know that some day we will be able to see him again in heaven. May God be with all of you.
Don Oz Osborn says
To Mary: I’m sorry I never met you. Lee & I were like brothers growing up. To Lois & Gordon: I can’t imagine this world without Lee in it. I know he will continue to live in my heart until we meet on the other side of the veil. To Norma & Tim: What can I say? The best of friends will always remain the best of friends. The times in HS with Dennis, Ken, Bob, Lee & I are some of the fondest memories I have had all of my life. And Norma, don’t forget those card games in your apt. in Footville. Tim, please carry on the spirit of your dad. It’s been years since I have seen you, but I know how proud Lee is of you. I’m sorry I won’t be there physically, but all of you will be in my heart and prayers, as we mourn the loss of a companion and very dear friend.
With Love,
Don (Oz) Osborn
1075 Duna Drive
Laramie, WY, 82072
Roger Stanek says
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. I worked with Lee for many years at Ohmeda Medical in Madison and the mention of “ornery and tired” brought back many good memories of Lee, and his quick wit and humor. He was a good man.
John Zanoya says
I worked with Lee at Ohmeda. We really enjoyed his wonderful sense of humor.
He is truly missed here.
Randy Clauer says
I worked with Lee at Ohmeda. I was sad to see he had passed away, sometimes life does not seem fair.
Lee was a first class indiviual. I also enjoyed his quick wit. I might see him getting that 1st cup of coffee in the morning and Lee saying something that would make you smile every time you thought about what he had said for the rest of the day. To his family, you have my sympathy.
Bill Louise Smith says
We were so sorry to hear that Lee had passed away. He was a fine Christian man. Joyce Fritz and Lois Elmer introduced him to us and he became a member of the Vesper Voices. I stood next to Lee in the singing group and enjoyed his bass voice. Even though it has been some years since we talked with Lee he was still our good friend. May God be with his loved ones. We share their sorrow and pray for the day when we will see Lee’s grin and hear his bass voice again in heaven. In Christian love, Louise & Bill
John Manske says
Dear Mary:
I was so shocked and saddened to read of Lee’s passing when I looked at the Lake Union Herald. I do seem to recall that he was battling cancer many years ago – perhaps prostate or colon?
Everytime I go past his previous place of employment in Madison on I-90, I think of him. You may know it is now part of GE.
You may know that Mom passed away April 12, 2006 at age 93 after declining for six years through dementia. It struck her when she was being operated on her for a broken femur on Father’s Day of 2000, and she was never the same again.
It was rough for her and my sisters and me to deal with this. I visited her several times a week for the final 2 and one-half years, when she was a resident of a memory-care CBRF in Cottage Grove, WI. For the final year or so, she claimed to not know who I was.
We had a lovely service the day after Easter at the funeral home in Milton, focusing on all the volunteering of her time and heart to so many worthy things over the years, from the youth to those who needed assistance, to the Meals on Wheels, etc. Shirley Carey was in charge of the service and did a nice job.
I have been relieved of my worry that I had for so long that Mom would turn even worse and suffer a stroke or become bed-ridden. That this did not occur was a relief.
Mom would have been 94 on September 3. Dad passed in 1972 at age 67 from cancer. Mom never looked for another spouse as she said that she would “never find another like Dad!”
I live in the Town of Sun Prairie and have been a lobbyist (agricultural) for the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives (WFC) for over 14 years!
With my sympathy and love,
John Manske