Marion Yvonne Trautman

Yvonne and Gene Trautman moved more than 20 times during their life together. Some moves came from job transfers as Dad grew his career; many others were from flipping houses long before it was a thing on HGTV. But on the morning of January 24, 2026, our precious, brave Mom finally arrived at her permanent home - heaven. The night before she arrived, Mom was congested and did not feel great. Our amazing caregiver, Robin - who has become our adopted sister - made her a hot toddy. I provided the ingredients, and Mom drank every bit of it and loved it. So, Lord, I'm sorry my mom arrived in heaven a little tipsy - that one's on me, not her. Marion Yvonne [DuFrenne] Trautman, known simply as Yvonne to all who loved her, was born on December 26, 1943, the first of four children born to Emile DuFrenne and Dolores Foreman DuFrenne in St. Louis, Missouri. Her Daddy was away defending our country when his first daughter was born, but he was able to get a pass to come meet her. It would be more than two years before he saw her again, once World War II ended. Three years later came her beloved brother Jack - her wrestling buddy, partner in crime, and lifelong best friend. Yvonne was a tomboy, and Jack was her match. The two were truly peas in a pod: best friends, occasional adversaries, and card-playing champions. Their laughter followed them wherever they went. They grew up hard, poor, and fast, sharing experiences, only the two of them truly understood - but always together. Jack's wife, Susan, became like a sister to Yvonne, and later in life they even retired near one another. Years later, the family grew with the arrival of another brother and sister, Marc and Mariette. Because of the age gap, Marc and Mariette remember Yvonne not as a sister, but as a loving mother figure. They couldn't wait for her to come home and care for them. Yvonne was nurturing by nature and always knew she wanted to be a mom, despite not having a good role model herself. When Yvonne married the love of her life, Gene Trautman, Marc and Mariette were still young children, and Yvonne often said leaving her "babies" was the hardest part. Yvonne and Gene married on October 26, 1963 - on her dad's birthday. Both were graduates of Assumption High School in O'Fallon, Missouri. They began married life with less than $20 to their name and went on to build a beautiful 63-year journey together. They soon welcomed their son Brett, followed three years later by their daughter Jeanette Trautman Bryant. As Gene worked to build his career - including night classes to earn his degree in 1981 and weekly travel, which kept him away 4 nights most weeks - Yvonne held everything together: the home, the kids, countless moves, and endless community involvement. Wherever they landed, she joined the Noonday Club and Newcomers Club, making friends easily. Her quick wit, intelligence, and beautiful smile drew people in. She worked as a proofreader, helped count for the Census Bureau, and even drove a school bus - as long as it didn't interfere with her most important job: being a wife and a mom. And she was exceptional at both. In 1984 - a year of celebration - Yvonne earned her nursing degree from St. Mary's College, the same year Brett graduated from high school. She went on to serve others through hospital work, home health, and hospice care. Her compassion shone brightest when she cared for her baby brother Marc during his battle with AIDS, at a time of deep misunderstanding and fear. Yvonne never hesitated, and Gene supported her every step of the way. She later returned to care for her mother during her battle with cancer. One of Yvonne and Gene's primary reasons for her returning to school to earn her nursing degree was to be able to afford to send their children to college without debt. Education was deeply important to them - and they did exactly that. We were incredibly blessed to begin our adult lives free from college loans. Yvonne was endlessly talented - an amazing painter, seamstress, quilter, baker, cook, canner, tennis player, bridge player, golfer, voracious reader, and crossword puzzle master. She wasn't afraid to try anything, and she more times than not became an expert at it. Yvonne and Gene raised their family with love and adventure: camping trips to the Ozarks and Lesterville, and vacations with no destination until we were hours down the road. They later taught us how to retire well, buying a travel trailer, then a fifth wheel, then an RV affectionately known as "the tour bus." They traveled across the country, to the Caribbean and Europe, joined a travel group in Griffin, and lived life fully. Eventually, they decided they were 'too old' to drive the tour bus while towing a car and bought a permanent place in Fort Myers, Florida - and in true Trautman fashion, they moved three times there too, fixing each place up and leaving it better than they found it. And always, brother Jack and sister Sue were nearby. To our dad, Gene - thank you for choosing each other every day. No one loved our mom better or more than you did, and she knew it. As Mom's health declined, your love only grew for her. To my brother Brett - oh how she loved you. And me - she always said, "I love you more. Someone else might love you as much, but no one will ever love you more than me." To her brother and sisters-in-law, she loved you all deeply. The Thanksgivings, Easters, Christmas Eves and Christmas Days, the visits and vacations you shared were among her favorite memories - always filled with love and lots of laughter! Her grandchildren, whether they called her Grandma or Mimi, were the apple of her eye. She bragged on you each constantly. She was so proud of you all. When the great-grandchildren arrived, she would laugh and say, "I can't believe I'm this old," while glowing with joy. I know seeing Dakota and meeting baby Nolan and Oakly Rose was one of, if not the highlight of 2025. To her nieces, nephews, cousins of every degree, and friends who felt like family - she loved you immensely. To my sister-in-law Kim and my husband Mark - Mom loved you both more than she could ever adequately express. All she ever wanted was for us to have life partners who loved and cherished us. In you two, we all received so much more. Thank you will never be enough for the love and support you have given us as we say goodbye to Mom and continue this journey without her on this side of heaven. We know we can do it because we have each other. As Mom would often say, life doesn't have to be perfect to still be wonderful. Choose wonderful. So, Mom, this is not goodbye - it's just see you later. You have always been a super, fast walker, and now you have run ahead of us to heaven! We love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. - Jeanette (Always said three times, followed by three kisses ) McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory (770) 253-4580

Marion Yvonne Trautman

December 26, 1943 - January 24, 2026