Phyllis Trautwein

Phyllis May Trautwein passed away on July 20, 2019.  She was born to Ada and Albert Berlin on July 20, 1930 in Wakefield Kansas and married Joe Trautwein on May 6, 1949 in the Berlin home. The couple had 3 children: Susan Meier, who is married to Mark Meier of Clay Center, Scott Trautwein who is married to Patty Trautwein of Thornton, Co, and Shelley Crane of Raymore, Mo. They also had 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Phyllis was preceded in death by Joe, who passed away May 18, 2013 in Clay Center, her sister Betty Berlin King Amberg, brother George Albert Berlin, and brother Robert (Bobby) Berlin, who died as an infant. Her sister Jean Berlin Burdett Lackey survives in Seneca, Kansas.

After graduating from Wakefield High School, Phyllis began a nursing career at the Clay Center Community Hospital, working as a CNA. She eventually became an LPN and worked for Dr. Richards in Clay Center for several years before moving to work at the county health department, where she remained until retiring in 1994.

Phyllis loved life and fully devoted herself to many passions. She spent most of her days on the golf course and became so well-known at the Golf USA store in Manhattan, KS that she was soon allowed to take products home on trial prior to purchase. When she was home, she kept busy caring for plants and the local birds. Phyllis kept no less than five bird feeders and was able to identify nearly every bird in the Western hemisphere, keeping several identification books at hand for those rare few that stumped her. She became adept at identifying birds by their songs and could even mimic several. Plants were likewise cared for at the Trautwein home and thrived under Phyllis’s attentive care; these, she often planted, harvested, and then served in creative ways to family and friends. She became adept at pairing herbs to maximize the flavor of each and loved to compliment chefs personally when dining out.

Together, Joe and Phyllis loved adventure and enjoyed camping above all, placing a deep love for the outdoors in each of their children. They particularly enjoyed Colorado in the summers and Yuma or Tucson in the winters. As Phyllis’s health eventually kept her from traveling, her greatest pleasure came from hearing about the adventures of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, listening to each tale as if she herself were the one living it.

Ultimately, the most important thing in Phyllis’s life was family. It was love of family that kept her in Kansas. She had a wandering heart that would have loved to venture beyond the Kansas rectangle, but love for her sisters, her husband’s family, and her children kept her planted in Kansas. Her heart’s desire was to be near the ones who were most important to her. True, she had many hobbies, interests, and activities but family was what defined and anchored her. Family was what she chose. Today, that family all attest that their lives are richer because she was in it.

Phyllis will be missed dearly by all who knew her. She was a remarkable woman with a passion for life, energy to work and achieve goals, and a focus on others that was infectious. All who knew her are blessed.

Graveside services will be held 11:00AM Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Greenwood Cemetery, Herb Mugler will officiate.  A Celebration of Life luncheon will follow at the Family Life Center at the United Methodist Church.  Family and friends are welcome to attend

Memorial contributions may be given to the Clay Center Zoo, Clay County Animal Rescue and Education Center (CCARE) or Meadowlark Hospice c/o the funeral home