A life well lived, shaped by family, faith, and a love of the outdoors, has left Lexington, Nebraska, with Kerry Lee Trautman, 71, who passed away unexpectedly on December 14, 2025.
Kerry was born June 13, 1954, in Long Beach, California, to Dwight and Shirley (Ransdell) Trautman. He grew up in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School in 1972. After a stint at college in Hastings, he returned home and worked as a carpenter for Dennis Latter. Kerry then joined his father Dwight in running Trautman’s Meat Center, where he dedicated more than 25 years of his life. In 2001, he launched Trautman’s Quality Meats in Kearney, pursuing his craft in sausage making and meat processing until his retirement in 2024.
Kerry married Loy (Nielsen), and together they welcomed two children: Dirk and Kylee. He later married Heidi (Carlson), and after their divorce they raised and showed Percheron Draft Horses, a venture that carried them to many places and forged numerous lasting friendships.
His leadership extended beyond the family business. Kerry served as a former president of the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors and as a past president and longtime local committee member of Ducks Unlimited. He was a proud Eagle Scout, a longtime youth Cub Scout leader, and a devoted instructor of hunter safety education.
An extraordinarily gifted sausage and snack stick maker, Kerry earned many awards from the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors and continually experimented with new recipes.
Kerry found immense joy in sports, cooking, fishing, and above all, hunting—especially waterfowl. His best days were spent in a blind. He hunted at Jeffrey’s Island for nearly four decades, and in the last ten years he was grateful to hunt with Dr. John Ford and Sid Jaeger, a generosity he could never fully repay. His legendary blind breakfasts, epic Christmas parties, shared stories, and playful pranks created memories that his hunting partners, friends, and family will treasure for an eternity. As Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson might put it, Kerry’s time in the blind made him “happy, happy, happy.”
Left to cherish Kerry’s memory are his children, Dirk (Kami) Trautman of Lincoln and Kylee (Matt) Wilken of Bertrand; grandchildren Brenly and Kendyl Trautman and Westin, Macrae, and Oaklee Wilken; sisters Joni (Ed) Bennett of Lincoln and Cathy (Scott) Sarnes of Lexington; nieces, a nephew, special friend Sue Nickel of Lexington, and their canine companions.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dwight and Shirley, and by uncles Robert Ransdell and Darrell Trautman.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 19, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington, Nebraska. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. with Dan Schwarz officiating. A Celebration of Life with family and friends will then be held at Kirks Nebraskaland Restaurant. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home of Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.
