Ronald Trautman was born August 21,1971 to Steve and MaryLou Trautman in Lincoln, NE. Ron moved to the Scottsbluff, Nebraska area when his father transferred there for his job with the railroad. As a teenager, Ron enjoyed fishing, cruising Main Street on Friday nights, listening to music, playing video games or going to the arcade, shooting pool, playing penny-ante poker, and watching the stock car races at Oregon Trail Speedway in Gering, NE. Ron met his wife Laura in high school and they were married on July 20th, 1991.

Ron's experience with a Police Exploration program as a child prompted him to major in criminal justice and he took some college classes at WNCC and Chadron State College. While working a variety of jobs during his early college-age years, Ron realized that what he really wanted to do is own his own business, but he wasn't sure what type. When Ron and Laura moved back to eastern Nebraska, Ron discovered that he was very good at sales and he enjoyed having jobs that put him in leadership positions, but Ron wanted the freedom of being his own boss.

Ron and Laura were blessed with twins, Adam and Christopher in 2007. Ron was working for DirectTV at the time, but was laid off by the contractor due to downsizing. Ron seized this opportunity to go back to school to become an LPN in order to understand and help in the care of his son Christopher, who had a variety of health issues. This training was invaluable, but Ron realized that this career path wasn't for him, so he decided to go into the culinary program at SCC. While taking classes at SCC, Ron became co-leader of Adam's Cub Scout Pack 76 in Waverly and volunteered his time with the Boy Scouts as an ATV instructor at Camp Cornhusker in the summer. Ron finished the culinary program at SCC and realized that he had finally found his passion!

Ron had a taste of owning his own business when he partnered with the owner of the Rotten Apple in Nebraska City. Unfortunately, Covid struck and the business closed. Not to be defeated, Ron decided that his dream was to own his own food truck business! In preparation, Ron binge-watched episodes of Chopped, Hell's Kitchen, Restaurant Impossible, the Amazing Food Truck Race, Bar Rescue, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, Masterchef, and BBQ Pitmasters. Ron's kitchen, basement, garage, and storage shed filled with cooking gadgets and equipment. You would often find Ron searching for, creating, and trying new recipes. Smoking meat quickly became his specialty. He would often get comments about the variety of BBQ t-shirts he constantly wore, especially the one that said, "I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled!" Ron was able to put his new skills to use when he landed a job as head chef at Traditions in Sprague, NE. You would often see him coming out of the kitchen to visit with customers and ask how the food tasted.

Unfortunately, Ron had to quit this position when he was diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in November of 2023. It was this life changing event that altered Ron's drive in life. Instead of pursuing a career that would fulfill his life, he shifted toward living life in the moment and reflecting upon what his purpose really was. He had always liked watching Lifetime holiday movies, but he added shows with themes about faith in God and he began reflecting upon his life and the choices that he had made.

Ron's dream to own his own food truck was left unfulfilled when he lost his battle with cancer on November 17th, 2024. Ron is survived by his father, Steven Trautman, Larry Trautman (brother) and two nieces and a nephew, loving wife Laura (Spencer) Trautman, to whom he was married to for 33 years, and twin sons Adam Trautman and Christopher Trautman, whom Ron was very proud of and loved with all of his heart. Ron's loving dedication to his wife and children, drive, perseverance, sense of humor, and his pleasure of serving food (and eating it too), will be fondly remembered.