Memorial

Ocie A. Trimble, 81, passed away at the Solon Care Center on April 8th, 2013. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 12th at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, 4200 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 13 at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Born July 24th, 1931 to Ocie Trimble and Thelma Trimble in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ocie was a national class athlete, talented musician, gifted horseman, and Air Force veteran whose friendship and love were valued by family, friends, and students. Above all else, he was a man who believed in getting involved in life, and who went out of his way to help others in need. A natural story teller with over a hundred written stories, Ocie shared his experiences and wisdom by providing common sense solutions, or by pulling out his tools and helping you with whatever problems stood in your way. Ocie enjoyed an unprecedented dominance in track and field as a mile runner and was never defeated in his high school years winning consecutive state championships in both track and cross country in the state of Iowa running for Cedar Rapids Roosevelt high school. Offered a track scholarship at the University of Illinois under Coach Leo Johnson when the University of Illinois had one of the best track programs in the country, Ocie excelled at the university level and was a member of the premier 4 x 880 relay team that was among the nation’s best. Ocie also was one of the nation’s finest speed skaters, winning countless trophies throughout his years, as well as qualifying for the 1964 Olympic trials. These achievements played a large role in shaping Ocie’s coaching philosophy later in life when he served as head coach of track and cross country for Cornell College in Mt. Vernon. Married to Janet Villers in 1954 while serving in the Air Force, Ocie and Janet spent the first four years of their married life together moving from Tucson to Waco to Bismarck, and then back to Iowa City, an experience they described as their Air Force “honeymoon.” In Iowa City, Ocie worked during the day as a pharmaceutical sales rep, and then worked hard at night alongside Janet in building their house, as well as those of his eventual neighbors, on Taft Speedway, where they would live until the 2008 floods took away their home. A coach at Cornell College, in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and an instructor in human relations and other courses at Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids for over twenty years, Ocie’s warm and gregarious nature and honest compassion won him many lifelong friends, and he kept in touch with his students long after they had graduated.Ocie is survived by his wife, Janet Trimble; his son Mark Trimble and wife (Lisa Spellman) of Iowa City, IA; his son Matt Trimble and two granddaughters, Hauna Trimble and Meghan Trimble of Lino Lakes, Minnesota; and his daughter Natalie Rao and husband (Cheeni Rao) and grandson, Anjaneya, of Coralville, Iowa. He is also survived by his sister Thelma Trimble of Louisville, Colorado and two brothers, Bruce (Bonnie) Trimble of Menomonie, Wisconsin and Ralph (Carolyn) Trimble of Urbana, Illinois. In addition he is also survived by many nieces and nephews. The family also wishes to thank the staff at the Solon Care Center for their excellent care and support.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions in Ocie’s name to a fund to be established in his name at Kirkwood Community College to help support adjunct faculty.