Alois “Al” Francis Trendel, 84 years, of Temperance, MI died October 31, 2025, at Aspen Grove in Lambertville, MI. The son of Alois and Isabel (Mulaney) Trendel he was born November 9, 1940, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo, OH. Al married Judy Velte on May 18, 1968, at St. Clement’s Church in Toledo and they enjoyed 57 years together.
Al attended elementary school at Sacred Heart in Toledo and St. Mary’s in Sandusky and high school at Don Bosco High School in New York. He honorably served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, where he was stationed aboard the USS Sperry as a machinery repairman. Following his military service, he was a glass closure engineer at Owens-Illinois, where he worked for more than 30 years. Al’s innovations at work led to three registered patents.
Al never stopped working. On weekends, he would either be farming his property with corn and potatoes or earning extra cash cutting trees down and grinding stumps. Even after retiring from his professional career at OI, he worked as a repairman at a local business. In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking. He made grandfather clocks, personalized toyboxes, a baby cradle, bookshelves, and other cherished items. He also enjoyed riding and racing motorcycles well into his 70s. Renowned for his resourcefulness, he was regarded as an all-encompassing handyman who could repair virtually anything or devise an alternative solution.
Upon being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Al committed himself to extensive research into its origins and potential associations with chemical exposures, including Agent Orange. In accordance with his wishes, his brain was donated to the Department of Veterans Affairs Biorepository Brain Bank to further scientific understanding.
Al is survived by his wife, Judy; daughters, Jenny and Amy (Josh); grandchildren, Alec (Jessica), Nicole, Griffin (Isabel), and Holden; great-grandchild, Clay, and his soon-to-arrive baby brother. He is also survived by his stepmother, Mary; siblings, Larry (Pat), Jude, Mary (Bob), Marge (Jeff), Mike (Janell), Joe (Yong), Bill (Jill), and Ann (Tim), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his brother, Louis and his sister, Sue.
Visitation will be Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Urbanski’s Bedford Funeral Chapel 8300 Lewis Ave. Temperance, MI. The funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Temperance 8330 Lewis Ave Temperance, MI where there will be visiting in the Narthex after 10:00 a.m. with Military Honors conducted by Lambertville VFW Post #9656.Cremation is to follow.
The family gives a special thank you to the caregivers over the years, especially those at Aspen Grove. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the research of Parkinson’s Disease or your local Veterans Center.
Online condolences may be shared at www.bedfordfuneralchapel.com .
