John Louis TRAUTMAN

12/06/1925 - 05/29/2014

TRAUTMAN, John Louis December 6, 1925- May 29, 2014 John Louis Trautman was born at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. He initially lived on Spokane's South Hill and attended Wilson grade school. His parents later bought a ranch at Nine Mile Falls, Washington during the time that John attended and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School. John served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific campaign aboard the USS Indiana where he was a third class electrician's mate. He married Catherine Joyce McKenzie August 1, 1948. They purchased a small farm not far from the Trautman ranch. John had a Bachelors of Business Administration from Gonzaga and worked for his parents at the Bakers and Confectioners Supply in Spokane. He later got his Masters in Teaching from Whitworth College. He worked for his parents until 1964 when he started teaching at Nine Mile Falls Elementary. John later became the head teacher at Lake Spokane Elementary where he taught until his retirement. John was very interested in the farm and ranch and with his father raised hay and cattle for many, many years. He was an avid musician playing the piano, banjo, electric slide guitar and others. He was a great athlete who ran many races including numerous half marathons. He loved boating, water skiing and was a founding member of the Sandstompers - a weekend boating group formed on Lake Spokane with numerous families. After his divorce from Cathie in 1997, he moved back to his parent's ranch, which he had inherited, and spent his remaining years there preserving the ranch in an untouched condition and protecting the wild life that lived there as well. He is survived by Gary Louis Trautman, son, Port Orchard, Washington, Jo Ann Trautman, daughter-in-law, Port Orchard, Washington, John Robert Trautman, son, Seattle, Washington, Megan Rebecca Allison, granddaughter, Renton, Washington, Gary Louis Trautman Jr., grandson, Las Vegas, Nevada, and three great-grandchildren, Tasmin Xavier Trautman, Owen Allison and Mia Rebecca Allison. A celebration of life will be held on June 21, 2014, at 2:00 at the home where he raised his boys, N. 14702 Tormey Road, Nine Mile Falls, WA. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Spokane Humane Society.