Karl Trautmann

Family-Placed Death Notice

KARL DAVID TRAUTMANN Our Son, Karl David Trautmann, passed December 29th, 2006 from this world, to join us, his parents Karl Heinrich and Madeline. He was born to us on October 31st, 1934, in Bayonne, New Jersey. As a boy he loved to swim in the East River. He worked hard to help support his family. He served in the US Air Force stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. Our son loved the mountains, water, aviation, reading and music, paths that he would follow for the rest of his life. Our Brother is the oldest of us four. Karl was protective and strong, he was always there for the good and the bad, and he was true. Karl is reunited with brother George and sister Joan. We three are survived by our sister Madeline Wianecki of Dover, New Jersey. My Husband, We began our journey 48 years ago when you married me, Peggy Yvonne Ferguson, on October 18th, 1958 in Smyrna, Georgia. We made a home and family, through "better or worse", we have loved each other to the end. Karl began his 25 year career as an Air Traffic Controller in the Atlanta Enroute Center. He was highly respected as a thinker, innovator and leader within the FAA. He piloted both sailplanes and small planes. Karl held many positions in the FAA including Chief of Jacksonville Center. He retired from Washington Headquarters to Cape Coral, Florida. As with most first retirements, Karl could not sit still and went to work with the Canadian and Australian Air Traffic Systems as an expert planner and problem solver. Karl and I lived in many cities such as Jonesboro, Williamson, Smyrna, Orange Park, La Plata, Ottawa, Cape Coral and North Port. He made many lifelong friends. As a member of the Cape Coral Power squadron, Karl became a Captain and Instructor, where he helped both novices and friends with boating. Our Father, "Dad" to Karl Houston, Chandra and Kurt, always guiding us, always caring, always supporting, we could not ask for a better father and none us would want to. Our Grandfather, "Dan Dan". To us, Tiffany and Clayton, he loved to talk, to spoil and ask what we thought. He listened and joked and explained why parents behave like parents, always with a twinkle in his eye when he looked at us. Our Family, Uncle, Cousin, Nephew, Son-in-law, Brother-in-law, Father-in-law. Karl was all about family, he stayed in touch with family all across the country and in Europe. Checking on the latest in our lives, if the phone rang on Saturday morning you could almost bet it was him, how's ... Lynn and Bob, Ginny, Nancy, Frances, Houston and Pat, Dennis and Pat, Larry, Sheryl, Terri and Jane? How are the children, Denise, Ray, Robbie, Karl, Stacy, Bud, Shane, Shayla, Wendy, Cindy, George, Glen, Gregg, Jane Ann, Robert and Eric, Kyle and Korrine? The Erhardt's, Trautmann's and many others in Europe. Karl has been a support, link, a conduit to us all. Our Friend, Karl Trautmann, a 32nd Degree master mason, in the Lodge of Forest Park, Ga. was a Traveler in the work of York and Scottish Rite. He loved people and understood the relationships between us, he was a man that did not judge us, but adjusted himself to each of us. To so many of us he was a trusted friend, a rare thing. Karl enjoyed sharing hunting, camping, fishing and boating with us and his family. Our Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Family and Friend: Karl touched each and every one of us in his own special way. We are thankful for his peace, sorry for our loss, we will miss him deeply, but not the memories of him for we know he lives within us and will be waiting to guide us once again. By his wishes, there will be no formal services; his ashes will be cast upon water and the mountains at a later date. The family request in lieu of flowers that a donation to the "Mike Conley House building fund at South Lake" in memory of Karl Trautmann. Send to Hospice of Lake & Sumter, 12300 Lane Park, Rd. Tavares, FL. 32778-9660. Becker Family Funeral Home, Clermont, FL is serving the family. www.beckerfamilyfuneral.com.