John passed away at home, Sunday June 3, 2018, following a lengthy illness. He was born In Portland, OR Mar 1, 1937, the only son to John Trout Jr. and Katherine (Hahn) Trout. His sister, Karen Louise, joined the family in August, 1945. John graduated from Jefferson High School in 1954 lettering in baseball and football, and attended Portland State University.
He met his wife, Sharon in 1958, they were married in 1960. Son, John, was born in 1961, and a daughter , Jonelle was born in 1968. All of John’s working years were spent in the solid waste removal industry. He was a third generation private hauler, taking over the family business after the death of his father in 1964.
Health issues dictated his working days take a new direction, in 1976 he became a business agent and later Secretary Treasurer for Teamsters Local 281, representing not only the drivers/owners in the garbage industry, but funeral embalmers and directors, taxi and laundry drivers, armored car drivers, and billboard companies employees. For the next 21 years he proudly served the Teamster membership in many capacities; including as a trustee on the Pension Trust Fund, Chairman of the Health and Welfare trust, Executive Board member of Joint Council 37, and President of Joint Council from 1987 to late 1990, when again, health reasons deemed a change in his work load. Local 281 merged with local 305 at this time, and served as Admin. Asst. until his retirement in 1997.
He was the first independent hauler in the city to offer curb side recycling to his customers, originally as a free service. He knew it was an issue whose time had come, and the necessity for such service was not going away.
The next, and much bigger, job was to convince the private independent haulers, most 2nd and 3rd generation of family owned businesses, that franchising was another change coming in the industry. Not fond of the idea himself, at first, he knew it was inevitable for the survival of the individual haulers, most of whom viewed the idea as government interference. He once organized a continuous flow of garbage trucks to circle City Hall, blowing loud air horns while he attended a City Council meeting on behalf of franchising, which large corporations opposed. It was a long battle, but working with other government factions, and citizens committees, he was instrumental in making it happen.
John loved sports, as a participant and as an observer. After years of playing baseball, he found a new passion in fast pitch softball. As a first baseman he played for some of Portland best teams from 1961 to 1972, participating in nearly all the NW Regional tournaments for those years, and going on to three world Championship Tournaments. In 1963 at Clearwater, Florida he played in all 31 innings of a game that still holds the world record for number of innings played in tournament history.
He hung up his cleats as a player, but stayed on the diamond for another few years as Manager of his son’s Babe Ruth baseball teams.
He was also an excellent bowler, winning the Oregonian Invitational Men’s Doubles event when he was 21 yrs old, and carried an average of 190 or more when bowling 2 leagues.
He shared his love of fishing with his family and friends; introducing both children at an early age to the joys and wonders to be found in our rivers, lakes, and ocean. If he couldn’t be on a ball diamond; in a boat or on the banks of a body of water was the next best thing.
After retiring in 1997, he stayed active in the garbage industry helping to run a disposal company he had purchased with two friends in the late 1970s. They were considering selling, when his health took another downturn, and after eight months on dialysis, he agreed for his son to donate him a kidney in 2004.
Life and level of outdoor activities slowed a bit after that, but he continued to enjoy spending time with his family, all of whom he cherished, as they cherished him.
He is survived by Sharon, his wife of 58 years, son John (Kathy) daughter Jonelle Forsberg ( John Erik) granddaughter Madison Forsberg, grandson Stian Forsberg, sister Karen Bohlmann (Richard) one niece and six nephews; one great- niece, and four great nephews.
A Service will be held at 12:30 PM Sat. June 23rd at Finley Mortuary 6801 SW Sunset Hwy Portland OR 97225.
Remembrances can be mad to Shriners Hospital for Children or American Diabetes Assoc.
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