Richard Trentlage

Richard D. Trentlage, 87, of Fox River Grove, passed away September 21, 2016. He was born December 27, 1928, in Chicago, to Richard B. and Edna (nee Nossum) Trentlage.

Richard was a devoted husband, dad, grandpa, and friend. He will be sadly missed by all. Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Jacqueline (Tooms); sons, David (Roxanne) and Tom; daughters, Linda (Bob) Bruun and Becky (Patrick Plumley); step-daughters, Susan Jennings, Patricia Kelley; step-son, Jeffrey Davis; grandchildren, Benjamin, Daniel, Kristofer, Bradley, Brittany, Jacob, Brooke, Nicole, Thomas Jared, Clarissa, Jeffrey, Zachary, Olivia, Kristin, Jacob, Georgia, Adele, Taylor, and Megan; ten great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his former wife, Vivian (nee Youngs) Atherley; son, Terry; and brother, William.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 11 AM with a visitation starting at 10 AM at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave. (Rte 176), Crystal Lake.

Richard, composer of The Oscar Mayer Wiener Song, was relatively unknown to the general public, but his outpouring of mindsticking advertising ditties was unprecedented in the adbiz: "Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener", "WOW! It sure doesn't taste like tomato juice (V-8)", "Buckle up for safety, buckle up!","McDonald's is your kind of place!" are examples of his work. His Wiener Song was heard in 21 English-speaking countries over a span of 52 years, a record-breaking run in light of the fact that most jingles have a life of 8 to 13 weeks, partly due to residual payment requirements.

For the Trentlages, the jingle business was a family affair; their living room often doubled as a recording studio where jingles were born and audition tapes were turned out via home-grown talent. His Children, David, Linda, Becky and Tom, having vocalized on audition tapes, were often tapped for "on air" sessions as well. His daughter, Linda, recalls: "We were always getting out of school to hop a train and meet our Dad at a Chicago recording studio. We never thought that was

unusual. It was just part of our regular life style. And it had no negative affect on our grades."

Mr. Trentlage began writing jingles while a senior at Calumet High School (Class of '47) in Chicago. His first effort was on behalf of a fictional product, Modern Plastic Brooms. It was his idea to create a believable sponsor for a high school talent show which was formatted like a radio program with the jingle being sung as the opening and closing commercials. Fifty years later, at a reunion affair, his class-mates sang his Modern Plastic Broom jingle, testament to the staying power of his intrusive lyrics and melodies. Even more important to his real-life jingle clients was the way his concepts moved the goods. His Wiener Song has been credited by the Oscar Mayer Company impetus for selling enough wieners to reach the moon and back six times!

Saturday October 8, 2016, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Davenport Family Funeral Home

Saturday October 8, 2016, 11:00 AM at Davenport Family Funeral Home