Colby and I began our friendship in Kindergarten. We attended Curtis Elementary School together. There was a group of us who all hung out and I remember us girls chasing Colby, Bill Rushford and Robbie Robinson during recess! We all loved to play "King of the Mountain." One day someone (maybe John Wendt?) pushed Bill who then fell on Colby and they rolled down the hill. Colby ended up breaking his leg that day. We used to tease Bill all the time about him breaking Colby's leg. Colby was a great guy and he is missed. I can't believe its been 14 years this December since he passed away. I'm sure he'll be with us in spirit this December at our 20 year reunion.
For those of you who don't know, Colby passed away in December 2004. I believe he had a blood disorder. (Someone correct me if I am wrong). I think it was Epstein Barr. (not sure if spelling is correct). He was sick for a while, then seemed to be doing better for a time. He was attending NMU for a degree in Computers at the time of his death. There is a NMU scholarship in his name. I would like us to do something in Colby's name from the Class of 88. Maybe we can collect $$ during the reunion and then donate the money to the school in Colby's name. Any ideas/thoughts?
I can't remember a single person that didn't get along with Colby. He was just one of those people that everyone genuinely liked. I remember that he had been sick in high school for a while and they could never figure out what was wrong with him, but we all just figured it wasn't very serious, because he got better. My condolences to his family, he made us all better people for knowing him.
Colby D. Trinka, 24, of Lakefield Township, died December 23, 1994 at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Colby was born June 3, 1970 in Adrian, son of Wilton & Gail (Myers) Trinka.
Colby was a lifelong resident, 1988 graduate of Tahquamenon Area Schools and recipient of the J.L. DeCook award. He attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, member of the Newberry United Methodist Church and member of the 4-H Club.
Colby is preceded in death by his brother Nicholas in 1977. Survivors include his parents Wilton and Gail and sister Missy all of Lakefield Township; paternal grandmother Margaret Trinka of Blissfield and maternal grandmother Virginia Myers of Adrian.
Friends may call at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry on December 28, 2004 from 4-8 pm. Funeral services will be held December 29, 1994 at 11:00 am at the Newberry United Methodist Church with Pastor James Rule officiating. Interment will take place at the East Lakefield Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Colby Trinka Scholarship Fund c/o of Tahquamenon Area Schools, 700 Newberry Ave., Newberry, MI 49868 in memory of Colby D. Trinka.
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Colby was an awesome person and I was blessed enough to have a locker right by him for many years. A lot of laughs were shared there. He kept fighting to the very end. I miss a great person and friend.
I remember the kindergarden bus ( my wife's grampa was the driver) from Newberry school with us Lakefield kids. Me, Colby, Tammy, Kelly and Angie. I don't recall any others. We sat together every day, and played together alot in kindergarden. Colby's Birthday was June 3, and his mother would always have his B-day party on the last day of school. What a great day for a party!
I remember when Billy broke Colby's leg. I also remember how much we teased Bill when we found out his name was Russell. Bill never took that very well. In 4th or 5th grade Bill and Colby got in a big argument and we all chose sides. Of course me and Colby against Bill and Robert Metcalf. Wm Teed joined our side so we had to quit picking on him, for a while.
Colby had a good year in 1993, he hung out with all us gomers on the 4th of July in Curtis at (you guessed it) Bills house. He also spent 4 of 5 nights with me and my brother-in-law John, at our deer camp. We had a great time.
At thanksgiving weekend in 1994 I spent the day with him at Marquette General Hospital, and we had so much fun talking about the "ol days" and all the people we knew growing up.
Colby was the most determined person that I have ever met. Throughout his battle with illness, he remained focused not only on beating the disease, but earning his degree. Sharing an apartment with him at NMU certainly helped shape my attitude. Watching him struggle with fatigue and pain, and still making it to class motivated more people than just me to try harder when things did not come easy. He taught me a great deal, even if I didn't learn from him right away. I have reflected on many conversations that we had, even after 14 years.
The Reunion Committee decided that any money left over from the reunion will be donated in Colby's memory to the Bystrom Auditorium to help w/ new curtains and AV equipment.
Nina Bijarro (Madden)
Colby was kind, caring and the most genuine person in our class!Kelly Davis (Hetrick)
Colby and I began our friendship in Kindergarten. We attended Curtis Elementary School together. There was a group of us who all hung out and I remember us girls chasing Colby, Bill Rushford and Robbie Robinson during recess!We all loved to play "King of the Mountain." One day someone (maybe John Wendt?) pushed Bill who then fell on Colby and they rolled down the hill. Colby ended up breaking his leg that day. We used to tease Bill all the time about him breaking Colby's leg.
Colby was a great guy and he is missed. I can't believe its been 14 years this December since he passed away. I'm sure he'll be with us in spirit this December at our 20 year reunion.
Kelly Davis (Hetrick)
For those of you who don't know, Colby passed away in December 2004.I believe he had a blood disorder. (Someone correct me if I am wrong). I think it was Epstein Barr. (not sure if spelling is correct). He was sick for a while, then seemed to be doing better for a time. He was attending NMU for a degree in Computers at the time of his death. There is a NMU scholarship in his name.
I would like us to do something in Colby's name from the Class of 88. Maybe we can collect $$ during the reunion and then donate the money to the school in Colby's name. Any ideas/thoughts?
Please share a memory of Colby.
Jeffrey McClain
I can't remember a single person that didn't get along with Colby. He was just one of those people that everyone genuinely liked. I remember that he had been sick in high school for a while and they could never figure out what was wrong with him, but we all just figured it wasn't very serious, because he got better. My condolences to his family, he made us all better people for knowing him.Kelly Davis (Hetrick)
A copy of Colby's obituary:Colby D. Trinka, 24, of Lakefield Township, died December 23, 1994 at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Colby was born June 3, 1970 in Adrian, son of Wilton & Gail (Myers) Trinka.
Colby was a lifelong resident, 1988 graduate of Tahquamenon Area Schools and recipient of the J.L. DeCook award. He attended Northern Michigan
University in Marquette, member of the Newberry United Methodist Church and member of the 4-H Club.
Colby is preceded in death by his brother Nicholas in 1977. Survivors include his parents Wilton and Gail and sister Missy all of Lakefield Township; paternal grandmother Margaret Trinka of Blissfield and maternal
grandmother Virginia Myers of Adrian.
Friends may call at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry on December 28, 2004 from 4-8 pm. Funeral services will be held December 29, 1994 at 11:00
am at the Newberry United Methodist Church with Pastor James Rule officiating. Interment will take place at the East Lakefield Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Colby Trinka Scholarship Fund c/o of Tahquamenon Area Schools, 700 Newberry Ave., Newberry, MI 49868 in memory of
Colby D. Trinka.
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
William (Scott) Wallace
Colby was an awesome person and I was blessed enough to have a locker right by him for many years. A lot of laughs were shared there. He kept fighting to the very end. I miss a great person and friend.Allan Macaulay
I remember the kindergarden bus ( my wife's grampa was the driver) from Newberry school with us Lakefield kids. Me, Colby, Tammy, Kelly and Angie. I don't recall any others. We sat together every day, and played together alot in kindergarden. Colby's Birthday was June 3, and his mother would always have his B-day party on the last day of school. What a great day for a party!I remember when Billy broke Colby's leg. I also remember how much we teased Bill when we found out his name was Russell. Bill never took that very well.
In 4th or 5th grade Bill and Colby got in a big argument and we all chose sides. Of course me and Colby against Bill and Robert Metcalf. Wm Teed joined our side so we had to quit picking on him, for a while.
Colby had a good year in 1993, he hung out with all us gomers on the 4th of July in Curtis at (you guessed it) Bills house. He also spent 4 of 5 nights with me and my brother-in-law John, at our deer camp. We had a great time.
At thanksgiving weekend in 1994 I spent the day with him at Marquette General Hospital, and we had so much fun talking about the "ol days" and all the people we knew growing up.
I was very proud to be a Pall Bearer.
I still drop in to say Hi a few times a year.
Brian Kaven
Colby was the most determined person that I have ever met. Throughout his battle with illness, he remained focused not only on beating the disease, but earning his degree. Sharing an apartment with him at NMU certainly helped shape my attitude. Watching him struggle with fatigue and pain, and still making it to class motivated more people than just me to try harder when things did not come easy. He taught me a great deal, even if I didn't learn from him right away. I have reflected on many conversations that we had, even after 14 years.Kelly Davis (Hetrick)
The Reunion Committee decided that any money left over from the reunion will be donated in Colby's memory to the Bystrom Auditorium to help w/ new curtains and AV equipment.Tania Belanger (Anderson)
Colby was the sweetest guy!! There is no way you could be mad at him ever for anything!!Had a few good laughs with Colby and many good times at AWANA along with Kelly and many others!!
Colby is another taken away too soon - He crosses my mind as well and is Missed!!