Edward Earle Treend, 88

Edward Earle Treend passed away peacefully with family at his side at his residence Feb. 25, 2023, at the age of 88 years old. He is survived by his four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as the children of his heart.

Dad was an adventurer, a poet, a musician, an artist, but above all, a Christian man who loved Jesus with all his heart. His legacy of loving Jesus and loving people will never be forgotten. Earle spent his early years in Detroit, where he met his future bride, Marcia, while they were both in the high school orchestra. His heart was smitten from that moment, and they shared 57 years of marriage until her passing in 2016.

As a young adult, Earle worked for GM as a mid-level manager, having started in 1953 as an engineer and continued in various positions within the company until 1968. When he wasn’t working, Earle enjoyed playing trombone in a jazz band and spending his free time with his growing family.

He and Marcia decided to pull up stakes and get out of Detroit, leaving the city life they knew for a life filled with adventure. They eventually landed in Post Falls, Idaho, on a little ranch — a life for which they were unprepared, but they took it on with gusto. Their first summer venture into gardening had them planting 30 hills of zucchini. They had no idea they would be harvesting daily truckloads of squash (and that all the neighbors and co-workers would hide until the zucchini man was gone)! They tried their hands at raising chickens, cows, goats, pigs and — their favorites — horses.

In 1972, the most significant event of Earle’s life took place: with his youngest son in his arms, he accepted Jesus as his Savior and began to lead his family on a Christian path from that time forward. He and all his family were baptized together in the Spokane River close to their home in Pleasant View, Idaho.

Earle worked as a real estate agent, a salesman, and an engineer, and eventually owned his own lighting company. This role suited him to a T because of the physical activity, problem-solving and, especially, relationships with people that he maintained until his passing.

His friendships were the most important thing in the world to him, and people responded to him as a father. If you were in his circle and the object of his attention, you felt loved and special. There are so many that will miss his gentle humor, his artistry, his trombone music and guitar strumming, his poetry and his puns.

The last life lesson he imparted was to maintain a grateful heart (1 Thessalonians 5:18), which he did until his last breath. Some of his final words were “So blessed, so blessed.” We love you and will miss you, Dad!

Springtime graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Pleasant View Cemetery, and a celebration of life held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at The River Church.

(1687 E. Horsehaven Ave, Post Falls, Idaho, 83854). All are welcome to see Edward's online memorial and to leave a message for the family, please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com.