Leon "Lee" Trautwein

Leon "Lee" O. Trautwein, 73, of Tontitown, Arkansas passed away on October 7 in Fayetteville, Arkansas after a short illness, surrounded by family.

Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, October 17, 2024, at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City, 3220 Stone Park Blvd. Sioux City, IA 51104. Burial will be at the Theophilus Cemetery in Winside, Nebraska.

Lee was born on September 21st, 1951, in Norfolk, Nebraska to Shirley (Swanson) Trautwein and Elwin Trautwein. He grew up in Winside, graduating from Winside High School in 1969. He married his high school sweetheart Sharlene Brockmoller on April 18, 1971. He first became a father to his daughter Andria in 1972 and welcomed his sons Brandon in 1979 and Chris in 1980.

Lee graduated from Wayne State College in 1973 with his BS in Business and Accounting, later earning an MBA from the University of South Dakota in 1979. Lee began his career with IBP in April of 1973, working in various roles until ending as Vice President and Treasurer in 2001. He continued to work in the industry for many years with companies like BPI, Coleman Natural Foods, and finally Creekstone Farms. In the workplace Lee was notably diligent and typically indispensable. He shrewdly negotiated his retirement in 2022 and moved to Arkansas to be closer to family.

Lee was known for his wry smile, dry humor, occasional orneriness, and profound generosity. His hobbies included golf and watching Nebraska football. He attended First Lutheran Church during his time in South Sioux City and served as their treasurer for many years. He was respected by many and so loved by all who had the privilege to know him closely.

Those survivors left to cherish their memories of him include his daughter and her husband, Andria and Jeff Lickfelt of Springdale, AR; two sons, Brandon Trautwein and his wife Gracie of South Sioux City, NE and Chris Trautwein and his wife Kate of Prairie Grove, AR; nine grandchildren, Kyra, Peyton, Ethan, Evan, Sylas, Lena, Quinn, Lily, and Jude; one great-grandchild, Alice; his sister Dorinda of Norfolk, NE; his mother-in-law Norma Brockmoller of Winside, NE; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives, and a host of friends.

Lee is preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, wife Sharlene and youngest sister Janelle.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be directed towards the family.  

The family encourages attendees to wear their favorite flannel or Husker gear.