Stella Kathleen Trautz, age 93, of Higgins Lake, died April 10, 2017 at Crawford Continuing Care Center in Grayling. Private family services will be held. Those wishing to donate in her memory may do so for the Human Development and Family Studies Program at Kent State University. Checks should be made payable to KSU Foundation and have her name on the memo line. Please mail to KSU Foundation, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, Ohio 44242.
She was born September 27, 1923 in Warren, Ohio to Ira and Stella Fay (Grimes) Totten. She and Edward A. Trautz were united in marriage on December 27, 1947 also in Warren and they lived in Oberlin, Ohio until moving in 1962 to Bloomfield Township, Michigan. With her husband she was involved with the Independent Bankers Association during his term as president. She was also very active as a volunteer at Sparrow Hospital while living in Okemos from 1965 – 1983, and in Haslett from 1983-1991.
Starting in the summer of 1976 they began vacationing at Higgins Lake and in 1991 moved there permanently. She was a staunch supporter of the Roscommon County Community Foundation, Higgins Lake Property Owners Association, and had been involved with the issues surrounding riparian rights at Higgins Lake.
Mrs. Trautz had a true gift for homemaking and she excelled in all aspects and loved what she did. She attended Kent State University to enhance her domestic skills, taking classes in the home economics program. She also found that she had a knack for home design that she enjoyed very much.
Her family will miss the cards that she would send to recognize all special days and events in their lives. She was currently sending cards to three generations of her family. She also found time to collect coins and stamps. Active with many volunteer activities at First Congregational Church in Roscommon, her organizational skills were utilized for the annual rummage sale, and she could always be found helping in the kitchen with whatever church function or occasion that required meal preparation, set up and clean up.
Mrs. Trautz was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edward and two sisters, Betty Biddlestone and Ann Dillon.
Surviving are four sons, Ed, Jr. (Beverly) of Brunswick, GA, Jason (Karen) of Higgins Lake, Jonathan (Denise) of Maple Grove, MN, and Robert (Cherie) of Pleasant Hill, CA; eight grandchildren, Jeffrey, Todd (Leah), Katie (JJ) Wilhour, Tim (Stacy), Eric, Michelle (Calvin) Sargent, Andrew and Bryson; four great-grandsons and another boy on the way, Alexander, Zachary and Cole Trautz, and Henry and baby boy Wilhour; and a sister, Barbara Greene of Plantation, FL.
Arrangements are being made by Walsh Funeral Home in Roscommon.
###
Au Sable Media Group, LLC, is a veteran-owned company that owns and operates the Roscommon County Voice, Crawford County Voice, Michigan Boomers and Voice of the Au Sable.
Our focus is on the positive people and events that make Northern Michigan a great place to live, vacation, work and play.
We have been commercial printers and publishers since 2010, specializing in brochures, rack cards, magazines and other newspapers and publications. A new addition to our stable of marketing products are various promotional items such as shirts, hats, mugs, water bottles and much more.
Through our publications and website at UpNorthVoice.com, we cover the following communities: Roscommon, Houghton Lake, St. Helen, Higgins Lake, Grayling, Frederic, Gaylord, Lewiston, Johannesburg, Atlanta, Hillman, Fairview, Comins, McKinley, Mio, Rose City, West Branch, Hale, Glennie, Sand Lake, Harrisville, Tawas City, East Tawas, Oscoda, Au Sable AuGres, Standish, Omer, Sterling, Gladwin, Beaverton, Kalkaska, South Boardman, Fife Lake, Mancelona, Alden, Traverse City, and Waters.
Our staff regularly covers the following school districts: Roscommon, Houghton Lake, St. Helen, Grayling, Mio and Fairview.
We can also be found on Facebook at Roscommon County Voice, Voice of the Au Sable, Michigan Boomers and Crawford County Voice.
For information on promoting your business in any of our products please contact Tracy Constance at 989-275-1170 (tracy@ausablemedia.com) or Walt Smith at 989-390-5359 (waltsmith1955@gmail.com).
If you have information you would like to see published, email Theresa Ekdom at theresa@ausablemedia.com, or Elana Warsen at elana@ausablemedia.com. You can also enter calendar items at your convenience at ww.UpNorthVoice.com.
Au Sable Media Group is an equal opportunity employer and follows all applicable state and federal laws. Our corporate office is located at 709 Lake Street in beautiful downtown Roscommon, Michigan.
