John T. Trant

John “Jack” Trant, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and devout Catholic, passed away peacefully on March 21 at the age of 87 in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Born on November 9, 1938, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jack lived a life dedicated to his faith and his family.

Jack attended Central High School in Pittsburgh, graduating in 1956, and played for the well-known Morningside Bulldog football team. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and played football there, while also becoming editor of the yearbook. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in Business/Marketing. He entered the Air Force after graduation and married the love of his life, Mary Jane “Doojie” (Powell), on August 5, 1961. They planned to honeymoon in Bermuda, but the Air Force had other plans and placed him on active duty, rerouting their “honeymoon” to Colorado Springs- home of the Air Force Academy. He was then stationed on Long Island at West Hampton Beach until 1964.

They moved back to Pittsburgh with their firstborn, Bruce, and soon after, they welcomed their second son, Brian. Jack took a job at Mellon Bank while getting his law degree in the evening. He graduated from Duquesne Law in 1969 and passed the Bar soon after. He began his law career at Joy Manufacturing. They had their daughter, Heather, and he began a new position at Wheelabrator Frye, becoming the Vice-President of Administration.

Advancement within Wheelabrator Frye led the family to move to South Bend/Mishawaka, as Jack was part of the leadership team aggressively expanding their environmental systems group and helped navigate several major mergers, which required him to travel overseas to secure an international footprint. In 1987, he made a career change and began at Coachmen Industries as the Executive Vice President of Administration. This allowed him to learn a whole new industry and kept his keen intellect working at high capacity, while providing Coachmen the benefit of his extensive experience in corporate administration. He ended his professional career at Coachmen and retired in 2002, which closed his segment of “worklife” defined by two major chapters of industrial history: the high-stakes engineering world of Wheelabrator and the recreational vehicle boom at Coachmen.

During this time, his family of five grew significantly, with celebrations including weddings and the births of 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. His pride and love for them was unparalleled. Whether he was regaling stories about Christoper, Connor, Caroline, Catherine, Collin, Riley, Jack, Liam, or Kiera, and then Caleb and Levi, the sparkle in his eye never dimmed. He often said that having them was his “repeat” opportunity to be present for things he may have missed earlier when traveling for work. To this part of the family, he is known simply as “Pop,” and each could share limitless stories about his humor, advice, and love. But they would all share some collective memories as well: Pop’s breakfasts, his love for this country- with flags in all of his planters for Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, his quick wit, jokes, and teasing spirit that was always followed with a wide, full smile, his “thumbs-up”, his full-hearted out loud singing of Sinatra’s My Way, his love for St. Patrick’s Day, his die-hard commitment to Pitt’s football team, and his EARLY morning donut runs that were only experienced by the grandchildren up first!

Jack loved watching the Steelers, a dedication that did not diminish even when no longer living in Pittsburgh. He enjoyed tennis and golf, as well as wonderful times spent with friends. While he had the opportunity to travel extensively with work, the “true” family vacation each summer led him to the Jersey Shore.

He was the textbook definition of a living gentleman. He was a devout Catholic, a committed family man, a person who believed in integrity, and lived by the creed “early to bed, early to rise…”

More than anything, he is overjoyed at being reunited with “his Doojie,” and that brings peace to those of us who will miss him dearly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 1st, at 11:00 am, with a visitation from 9:00-11:00. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will occur at a later date.

In place of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jack’s memory to Hospice House in Mishawaka. 

May he rest in eternal peace.