Gil A. Trepal

Gil Trepal of Mason, 73, passed away on October 3, 2023, after a short illness.

Born Gilbert Anthony Trepal, Gil was a Clevelander and proudly wore his “made in Cleveland with Slovenian parts” T-shirt in honor of his heritage. He enlisted in the United States Air Force after high school, spending four years in Texas and Germany. He used the GI bill to go to Ohio University where he met his wife, Jennifer. They were married soon after graduation and enjoyed almost 49 years of love and companionship. He was very proud of their daughter, Katryn, and how kind, compassionate, and caring she grew up to be.

Gil had many careers. He was a technical writer, an advertising account executive, a marketing director, and the owner of his own marketing firm before he became an insurance salesman, a bookseller, a standardized test grader, and a handyman for anything from yard maintenance to home repairs and small remodeling projects. He made a million trips to Home Depot, many in his “That’s what I do - I fix stuff and I know things” T-shirt. He was also a teacher, making friends with many South American business people who came to Cincinnati to learn English. His most recent adventure was helping the county Board of Elections prepare for election day.

Gil loved learning and serving. He played flute and piccolo in his high school marching band and played piano for most of his life. He earned an MBA and was a Toastmaster, a Kiwanian, a coach for his daughter’s softball team, and a “friendly visitor” for the Warren County Elderly Services Program. He enjoyed working with fellow veterans on service projects through Veterans Connect. “No” was not a word in his vocabulary when someone asked him for help. He especially loved working on projects with his oldest grandson, Ethan, or his two surviving brothers and surely regrets that they never got the deck built. He and his two younger grandsons, Cody and Carter, had fun with pop trivia quizzes while riding in the car. His morning wasn’t complete until the sudoku was done. He often came home from the library with his arms loaded with books and rarely went anywhere without one. We pray that he has been reunited with his parents, his oldest brother, and his beloved dogs.

Someone once said of Gil, “He’ll talk to anyone.” If you knew him, you know.

The family of Gil will be receiving friends for a visitation at Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home - 400 Reading Rd., Mason, OH 45040 on Monday, October 9, 2023 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.  A funeral service will take place Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home beginning at 11:00 AM.  A procession to Rose Hill Cemetery - 171 S. Mason-Montgomery Rd., Mason, OH 45040 will take place immediately following the funeral service where a graveside with military honors will take place.