Kent Trickle, 76, Laketon, passed away on December 5, 2023, at StoryPoint Fort Wayne West in Fort Wayne. Born August 29,1947 in Wabash, Kent was the son of the late Jesse E. and Phyllis I. (Flack) Trickle.
Kent graduated from Manchester High School in 1965 and went on to graduate from the International Junior College of Business in 1968 before receiving a degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1992. During all of this schooling, Kent still found time to help his neighbors by volunteering on the Pleasant Township Fire Department, which he joined in 1966. He was the department chief trom 1974 to 2009 and again from 2016 to 2022. He was also hired as PTFD’s first full-time employee in 1993 before eventually retiring in 2022 but not before receiving an award for fifty years of service from the Indiana Volunteer Firefighter Association. Kent also worked in accounting and finance at Wabash Inc. in Wabash from 1968 to 2001 and served two terms on the Pleasant Township Advisory Board and two terms on the Manchester Community School Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2002. He was a true servant to his community, working all his life to make Laketon and the surrounding area a better, safer place for all.
Kent’s family walked alongside him in his passion for helping others, and their support made his service possible. He married his best friend and the love of his life, Arvada Holle, on October 5, 1969. The two were married for fifty-three years and were blessed with two children, Amanda and Andy, before Arvada passed away on November 29, 2022. Kent loved his family and the time he spent with them. He was a strong Christian man and belonged to Congregational Christian Church in North Manchester.
The loving memory of Kent Trickle will be forever cherished by his daughter, Amanda (Kevin) Shambarger, North Manchester; son, Andy (Melanie) Trickle, Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Mazric Shambarger, Ranissa Shambarger, Grace Trickle, and Gavin Trickle; and three great-grandchildren, Maddox Shambarger, Mya Shambarger, and Eastyn Green. Kent was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Arvada Trickle; and brother, Jesse Leroy “J.L.” Trickle.
Family and friends may call Sunday, December 10, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester. At 5:30 p.m. the Indiana Volunteer Firefighter Association will be performing a special service with funeral services starting at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Sebrena Cline and Pastor J.P. Freeman officiating.
For those who wish to honor the memory of Kent Trickle, memorial contributions may be made to Supporting Heroes, P.O. Box 991547, Louisville, Kentucky 40269 or StoryPoint Fort Wayne West Memory Care Unit, 611 West County Line Road S., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46814.
The family of Kent Trickle has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.
Condolences may be emailed to mckeemortuary.com