John Trendler, 67

September 13, 2014

Some of the pain John Trendler felt while caring for his wife Gail during her final months this summer was undiagnosed end-stage lung cancer. He rejoined his wife on September 13 at age 67. Both John and Gail were too young””and too young at heart””to leave behind so many family and friends.

John grew up in a Philadelphia home jam-packed with “the cousins” before moving with parents John Peter and Doris to Levittown. The cousins were Johnnie’s first brothers and sisters, but siblings Kathy and Marty rounded out the family. He enjoyed go karts, collecting baseball cards, and tennis. At Millersville University, he fell in love at first sight of Gail, who he took motorcycling and skateboarding on their early dates. Joining the Navy, John served as a supply ship’s inventory manager, which prepared him to graduate from Penn State near the top of his class. He began his career as a CPA and rose to finance and facilities director for AMP Inc.

John and Gail lived a comfortable life in the suburbs with their three children Dave, Alison, and Chris. John’s hobbies included aquariums, wine and coin collecting, tennis, bonsai, Boy Scouts, watching Penn State football and the Eagles, playing guitar, reading Clive Cussler books, setting off fireworks, swimming, and enjoying the kids’ sports games and school concerts. The family spent vacations touring historic cities and enjoying the beaches at Wildwood, Myrtle Beach, and Emerald Isle. John and Gail also loved to surprise their kids with one-day trips they called “excursions” to nearby attractions.

This past spring, John and Gail celebrated the life they shared together, enjoying a spontaneous “excursion” cruise to the Bahamas, flipping through family photo albums, and hosting many visits from their children and five grandchildren. In late August John said, “I’ve been thinking about whether I lived a good life. I think I did.”

Friends and acquaintances are welcome to join the family in remembering John’s life at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz from 10 AM to 12 PM on Saturday, October 4. A time of sharing will begin promptly at 10:15. The family will receive friends afterwards from 11 to 12 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in John’s memory to Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.