- Date Of Birth: June 28, 1939
- Date Of Death: December 22, 2020
- State: Indiana
After graduating from Wiley High School in 1957, Phil studied music at Frankfort Pilgram College. In 1958, he married his high school sweetheart Marlene Kay (Brooker) Trotzke. He served in the Army for one year and then the Indiana National Guard. During this time, Phil and Marlene lived in San Antonio, Texas, and Indianapolis before returning to Terre Haute in the early 1960s. Phil joined his parents to help run the Trotzke’s Orchard and served as manager of Trotzke’s Market.
Throughout his life, Phil loved gospel music and playing the piano. He wrote and arranged several original songs, including collaborating with Merritt Ford on “God Took Away My Yesterdays,” which Jimmy Swaggart recorded in 1958. He also hosted a gospel radio show and traveled and performed in southern gospel quartets, including the Ambassadors, the Gospel Keys, and Crystal Valley Quartet.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years Marlene, son Mike (Betsy), daughter Julie McDonald, son-in-law Brandon McDonald, four grandchildren, Gavin, Kaylee, Kannon, and Quinn; and three sisters-in-law and their families, including many nieces and nephews.
![](https://lifefram.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Philip-A-Trotzke.jpg)