Obituaries

John “Ed” Trees, 83

May 29, 2015

John “Ed” Trees of Lancaster, PA passed away at home suddenly on May 29, 2015, at the age of 83. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Edward and Margaret (Herzog) Trees. Ed was the husband to Sylvia (Slusser) Trees. They would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on June 18th.
Ed, the youngest in his family, was born in Lancaster and a 1949 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School where he played football for the Crusaders. He worked 4 years for Kreider Brothers in Witmer, PA as a bookkeeper, before he was drafted during the Korean War. After discharge, Ed worked part time at Kreider Brothers Millwork while being the first in his family to earn a college degree. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 1959 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and quickly joined Educators Mutual Life Insurance Company as a bookkeeper. He was promoted through the organization as a System Analyst and a Controller and retired as Treasurer after 37 years. Ed also served as a local chairman of the PA Economy League and was on the Board of Directors for the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and the local Muscular Dystrophy association. He worked with Lancaster Housing Development in Lancaster City and was a past-President of Response. Ed was a long-standing member of the Hamilton Club in Lancaster.
Ed loved his family and made supporting them his number one priority. As his six grandchildren were born he assumed his new moniker “PAW”! He delighted in spending time with the family on various beach vacations and time in the Poconos although he was much less than thrilled with sand between his toes or bugs flying around his head. He was extremely prideful of the family that he helped raise. He will be sorely missed and we are all grateful that we carry many of the character traits that he instilled in us. He loved baseball especially the Phillies, Frank Sinatra, and spending time with his grandchildren. Ed enjoyed making train layouts with his grandchildren and visiting the Horseshoe Curve. Ed reminded everyone with his sense of humor, “I got to where I am today through a lot of hard work, fortunately, I didn’t have to do any of it myself.”
In addition to his wife, Sylvia, Ed is survived by 4 children: Jeff Trees, husband of Penny, of Lancaster, PA, Brian Trees, husband of Jodi, of Medford, NJ, Karen Miller, wife of Bo, of Lititz, PA and Greg Trees of Lancaster, PA; 6 grandchildren: Ryan, Lindsey, Erin and Daniel Trees and Nick and Seth Miller. His siblings preceded him in death: Catherine, George, Bob, Margaret and Florita.
Friends will be received from 9:30-11 AM followed by A Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 601 E. Delp Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 with Rev. David Danneker, Ph.D. as Celebrant. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friendship Community, 1149 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA 17543.

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Condolences to the Family

June 06, 2017

Mrs. Trees, Karen, Greg, and family,
It is with heartfelt sadness that I send you my condolence for the passing of Mr. Trees. I had no idea and feel ashamed that I did not stay in better touch with all of you. You all were an integral part of my childhood, and I am so very sorry foe your loss.
My sincerest condolences,
Terri (Mccloskey) Fleck

June 10, 2015

My family and I just moved in across the street. Shortly after moving in I was doing yardwork and Ed, Sylvia and Greg stopped by to introduce themselves. Ed seemed like a great neighbor and friend, and I’m sure he will be missed. We are sorry for your loss.
The Eberlys

June 07, 2015

I miss you Paw.
-Erin

June 07, 2015

I am a member of the Keystone Fantasy Baseball League. Like Ed I am a charter member. Perhaps my fondest memory of Ed was his sense of humor, dry wit and stories he would amuse us with.
I was shocked to get the sad news and I will miss him. My condolences go with you.
Dave Hendricks

June 05, 2015

To all the Trees family — I am so sorry about your loss. Your husband/father was a great friend to my father and to our family. I recall fondly his sense of humour and love for his family. I was delighted to re-establish contact with him in recent years after he kindly reached out to me on email and we stayed in touch as recent as the week before he passed away. I really appreciated that gesture of kindness, as it connected me to my past and my father.
I regret I cannot attend the service but please know that I will be praying for the comfort and peace of Christ. We were all blessed to know Ed Trees.
My sympathies – Brian Whisler

June 05, 2015

This memorial is to extend my sincere condolences to the Trees family at the passing of Ed to his eternal reward for a life well lived serving God, country, family, friends and community. Ed started this service early in life when he raised money for the missions in his home basement by showing old fashion Mickey Mouse films and sharing his mom’s wonderful chocolate cake when we were in grade school together at St. Anthony’s. Over the years we have kept in touch by email and at LCHS class reunions where I have continued to enjoy his humor, insights, and philosophy of life. I will miss Ed along with all who have known him.
Claude Wiegand

June 03, 2015

Our sincere condolences to Jeff and Penny and the rest of the Trees family on Ed’s passing. I considered Ed a friend and enjoyed the times we played tennis togeher. RIP
Ben & Sarah Clinger

June 02, 2015

Dear Sylvia and Greg,
You have my sympathy in the loss of Ed. I always enjoyed my conversation with him, he was a very bright and wise person. I will miss him also.
Ken Strubel

June 02, 2015

Our sincere condolences to Jeff and Penny and the rest of the Trees family on Ed’s passing. I considered Ed a friend and enjoyed the times we played tennis together. RIP.
Ben & Sarah Clinger

June 01, 2015

My deepest condolances to Sylvia and to each and everyone of Ed’s family! It was my great pleasure to have met Ed several years ago. We found we had a lot in common to discuss. Ed was very uplifting and we enjoyed our conversations on family connections. I am proud to be related to him. God Bless You All!

June 01, 2015

Sylvia, I was so sorry to read about Ed’s passing. My sincere condolences to you & your family. I’m currently on my way home from Fort Myers Fl. I would ask if there is something I could do but I know ther is nothing that will fill the loss of a spouse. May God be with you & brig you strength to get through this difficult times & the days to come.
Ed & I had a lot of good time together & he was a good man. I loved his sense of humor.
Bless you in the coming days
Ron Ford

June 01, 2015

I was saddened to learn of Ed’s death. My condolences to Sylvia and the children especially Greg. Ed was a very faithful parishioner of SJN and his faith was very important to him. May God give him the eternal life he desired as a faithful follower of our Saviour.
Fr Patrick Devine

June 01, 2015

Thank you for the Obitutary in Honor of Ed Trees. Please accept our deep condolences in the loss of a dear Son, Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend, Ed Trees as we know him. Fond memories we remember about Ed are devotion to his Family, caring and kind! His contenance was joyful when we were around him! He has left his Family a Legacy of generations to come with Love, Wisdom, Work Ethics and Serving in the Community. It was a true blessing to have crossed his paths in life here on earth. We look forward to spending Eternity with Ed and our Heavenly Father!! “Well done Good and Faithful Servant” are the words we all want to hear someday as we celebrate His life!! All our Love and Peace to you all, Tracy and Brenda Miller and Family

June 01, 2015

I am so sorry for your loss. Catherine was my mother-in-law, married to Larry Spangler and in the summer time, especially, I spent a lot of time at Florita’s. My parents were Jim and Mary Lombardo, I was married to Larry, Jr. Went to school with Joan and Gene.My deepest sympathies to you and your family.

Visitation: Saturday, June 06, 2015; 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM; St. John Neumann Catholic Church; 601 E. Delp Road; Lancaster, PA
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Services: Saturday, June 06, 2015; 11:00 AM; St. John Neumann Catholic Church; 601 E. Delp Road; Lancaster, PA
Map and Directions: Get Maps and Directions >