Father John Trimbur was ordained May 25, 1974, for the Denver Archdiocese by Archbishop James Casey in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Denver. Having served most of his priesthood in the Youngstown Diocese, Father Trimbur retired in 2014.
He grew up in Niles, attending Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and McKinley High School. He advanced to Youngstown State University and later Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. Initially studying for the priesthood for the Holy Ghost Fathers, he transferred to the Denver Archdiocese—earning a master’s degree in theology from St. Thomas Seminary there.
Following his ordination in 1974, Father Trimbur served at several parishes in the Denver Archdiocese before returning to the Youngstown Diocese in 1978 to be closer to his parents. He initially served as associate pastor at St. James (now St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish) in Warren until 1981. He was transferred to St. Joan of Arc (now Guardian Angels Parish) in Canton in 1981 and the following year to St. Joseph Parish in Austintown, where he remained until 1987. After serving briefly as associate pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Austintown, he returned to St. Joseph for half-a-year as administrator.
Father Trimbur was assigned in 1988 as administrator at St. Catherine (now Our Lady of the Lakes Parish) in Lake Milton, but later that year he became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mantua. The following year, he was transferred to St. John the Baptist (now Christ the Good Shepherd Parish) in Campbell. In 1991, he assumed the additional duty as pastor of St. Stephen of Hungary (now Holy Apostles Parish), which he retained until 1995. While remaining pastor of St. John, he also became pastor of St. Lucy in Campbell but left the next year— remaining at St. John. In 2001, he was briefly assigned to additional duties as administrator of St. Elizabeth in Campbell.
Father Trimbur was transferred to Our Lady of Mount Carmel (now St. Pope John XXIII) in Niles as pastor in 2002. He was appointed temporary administrator at Our Lady of Peace (now Christ the Servant Parish) in Canton in 2004. That same year he returned to St. Joseph Parish in Austintown as pastor, serving there until 2009. He assumed the additional assignment of sacramental minister at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Boardman and Hospice House in Poland for 11 years. He was transferred in 2010 to St. Rose Parish in Girard as associate pastor. In 2014, he served briefly as administrator of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in New Middletown before retiring that same year.
In many of his assignments, he has been a chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and is a fourth-degree member. In addition to his parish duties, Father Trimbur served two terms on the diocesan Board of Education and the diocesan cemetery board.
