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Ken W. Trotter, 71

Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother and Friend

Dec, 21, 1946 to Feb. 21, 2018

Ken W. Trotter was a family man, a true patriarch, with a strong, tough guy exterior, and a heart of integrity, honesty and generosity. He was a born leader and a man who believed in giving people second chances. He worked hard and smart to build the dream home and life for his wife of 50 years, Diane, and their children, John, Julie and Jolene.

Ken met the love of his life, Diane, at Edgewood High School in West Covina, Calif. He was 17 years old and Diane was 15 years old.

Following high school graduation, Ken joined the Navy as a Seabee in the United States Naval Construction Battalion from 1967 to 1969. He served in Okinawa and Vietnam. The motto of the Seabee is “The difficult we can do now, the impossible takes a little longer.” Ken embraced that mission throughout his life and was truly proud of his military background.

After leaving the Navy, Ken and Diane made a home for their family in La Verne, Calif. Diane was a homemaker, turning their house into the beating heart of the neighborhood. They modeled a good family life for everyone who was blessed to call them neighbors and friends. Ken loved playing in the swimming pool with his children on the weekends. Often he would return from work and bask in watching his kids at play on roller skates, bikes or the skateboard ramp until sunset. He took great joy in knowing his labor gave his family a safe place that nurtured fun.

Ken started Cal-Air as a special contracts foreman in 1980. Over two decades, he climbed the ranks to vice president of operations of Cal-Air. His rise from blue collar to white collar leadership is an achievement that gave him great pride. He was most proud of the company’s concurrent growth, having reached the top five mechanical contractors in California with more than 1,000 employees. He will be remembered among his colleagues for his fair leadership and genuine management style. He called his meetings with his teams the war room. He would ask his men to leave their cell phones and titles at the door when they entered the war room where he leveled the playing field and expected their frank honesty and integrity.

As his children matured, Ken encouraged them to go to college, find a career they would enjoy, and above all, create a family. In 1999, Ken and Diane made the impossible possible, wielding his expertise in construction to design every square inch of their retirement home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It was the perfect home to bring their family together on the holidays and every day. Ken loved riding on their property on quad motorcycles, zigzagging through the trees with his children and grandchildren. His most favorite summer days on the lake near their home would be spent driving his boat while towing the grandkids on the inner tubes, jet skiing and soaking in family fun. His legacy of devotion to family will live on in the hearts of his children and grandchildren.

Ken W. Trotter, age 71, passed away of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, in Idaho. The service to celebrate his life will be on Friday, April 20, 2018, at English Funeral Home in Post Falls, Idaho.

Ken is survived by his wife of 50 years, Diane Trotter; their son, John Trotter and grandson, Chance Trotter; their daughter and son-in-law, Julie Trotter and Aaron Drapeau; grandchildren, Chad Trotter, Aaron Jr. (Jasmine), Kris, Tyler and Lexis Drapeau; great-granddaughter, Gwendolyn Drapeau; their daughter, Jolene Trotter and granddaughter, Avery Arambula; Ken’s siblings, David (Janel) Trotter, Cheryl Trotter (Bob Downey) and their families.