Brian Anthony Trupp, otherwise known as “The Ice Cream Man,” of Higgins Lake (Little Cottage Ice Cream) passed away at the age of 64 in Grayling on Friday, November 26, 2021, with his fiancée Lori Akins by his side.
Brian was born in Detroit on May 17, 1957. He lived in Harper Woods his entire childhood. He was coached in football and baseball at a very early age by his dad, as well as other coaches like Frank Sumbera and Jim Krucki. Once in high school, he excelled at both football and baseball for the Grosse Pointe North Norseman.
In his graduation year of 1975, Brian held the record of the only “perfect game” pitched in the history of the Grosse Pointe Public School Systems. He not only made his mark as a local legend and excellent role model, but was well-liked and respected by his teammates and coaches.
Brian got recruited to Central Michigan University for his pitching skills, and then in 1978, when he met “the love of his life” (as he would say) Lori Akins. He also had the opportunity of a lifetime to pitch batting practice for the Detroit Tigers for that summer. Brian graduated from CMU with a BS in Business Administration and then pursued his Masters, while working as a Senior Assistant Branch Manager at the National Bank of Detroit, 1980-1986. He earned his MBA in Management & Supervision in 1982. He later landed his dream job as a manager for Northwest Airlines Federal Credit Union.
When Brian learned of his father’s Parkinson’s disease after Northwest Airlines Federal Credit Union merged into Wings Financial, he decided to move back to Michigan to help take care of him. After his father passed in 2003, Brian went on to take care of his mom until the time of her passing in 2008.
He worked at various management jobs until he relocated to Roscommon, where his parents had a cottage on Higgins Lake and he was hired as a Showroom Customer Service Manager at Old Point Comfort Marine in 2010.
In 2015, he jumped at the chance to purchase the Little Cottage Ice Cream Shop, not only while working full-time at Old Point, but also maintaining his insurance and real estate licenses. While learning and working the ice cream business in the evenings, he remained at his day job at Old Point, and then in 2018 he devoted all his time to Little Cottage until 2021, for a total of six summers of creating smiles and memories.
He loved to take pictures of families with their ice creams, frame them and hang them inside the shop. It was definitely his (and he hoped everyone else’s) “Happy Place.” His personality was engaging – he not only remembered people’s names, but the flavor of ice cream they ordered as well. HE was the one who made the business a success. . . .as one customer stated, “The nicest and most smiley man I ever knew.”
Brian will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his fiancée, Lori Akins of Roscommon; sisters Donna Duncan, Deborah (Randy) Naughton and Linda (Mark) Lytwyn; nephew Brian (Brianna) Duncan; nieces Samantha Duncan, Aubree Lytwyn, Fallon Lytwyn; and his six dogs and two cats. He is predeceased by his parents, Paul (2003) and Elaine (2008); and his brother, Gary Trupp (2017).
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Wagner & Walsh Funeral Home in Roscommon on Monday, December 27, 2021, at 11:00 AM, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. A gathering will take place immediately following at the Cut River Grille in Roscommon. Lori is requesting that you bring to the service a copy of your favorite picture of Brian and a short favorite memory to share.
Those that do not wish to attend the service in person due to distance, the weather, or the pandemic, may watch the service streamed live at 11:00 AM, Monday, December 27, 2021 at: https://www.facebook.com/wagnerandwalshfuneraldirectors
Memorial contributions may be made in Brian’s name to Roscommon County Animal Shelter.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner and Walsh Funeral Directors, Roscommon.
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