Delbert "Del" Andrew Trautmann Jr.

Delbert Andrew Trautmann Jr., known to most as Del, sometimes referred to as “Big Del”, often called “El Tigre”, loved to laugh and kept an impeccable yard. He was a man of many interests from sports and animals to travel and building, he had friends of all ages and never met a stranger. You can still see the impact Del left on the world from the rich life he built with his wife to the love he instilled in his children and grandchildren.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Delbert and Margaret Egner Trautmann, and big sister Joyce, Del spent his early days in Laredo, Texas where his family had produce farms. Del loved to recount growing up in Laredo eating onions straight from the farm to catching tarantulas after the rain. He made many lifelong friends growing up in the small border town. Eventually, the Trautmann family moved back to Cincinnati, and between Laredo and Cincinnati, he would become the big brother to four younger siblings: Dick, John, Peggy, and Michael. The raucous family of six children shared many adventures and much laughter throughout their childhood. Del attended St. Xavier High School. While in high school, he was a stand out swimmer, on his Coca Cola sponsored swim team. He would make it all the way to the Olympic trials, though he did not make the Olympic team he continued to enjoy swimming. After graduating, he would go on to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While there he joined the Navy JROTC and was introduced to his future wife, Lynn Davis. After a time he returned to Cincinnati and graduated from Xavier University (the “Harvard of the Midwest), and upon graduation, and after long distance dating, he would propose to the love of his life, Lynn.

Lynn and Del were married in Bronxville, New York, 1965 and set up house in Cincinnati. Their family grew quickly, with the birth of Del III and a year later Katie. The little family moved back to Laredo where Del worked for the family produce company. A few years later, they returned to Cincinnati and Chris was born. At thirty one years old, the company Del was working for, Continental Can, transferred the family to Tampa, Florida. Soon after their arrival in Tampa, Lynn gave birth to their fourth child, Kara, completing their family. While in Tampa, Del tapped into his entrepreneurial spirit and started a bottle cap business,Twist Cap, Inc., which would later become Beverage Closures, Inc. Del traveled all over the United States and in some other countries selling his aluminum bottle caps. He enjoyed the work and could tell you every detail of the creating, producing, and distributing of his caps. It was decided that the family outgrew their Town’n’Country home and they moved to Carrollwood. While on a summer vacation to the beach, Del brought home a new furry friend, the family’s beloved Labrador Retriever, Duggan. Duggan was an integral part of the family unit.

When not at work, you could find the family on Del’s boat “The Penetrator”, or Del would organize a neighborhood basketball game. If it was football season, he would be watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On quiet Sundays you would find him studying the play of the professional golfers on the PGA tour. Basketball season, college basketball season, you know no matter where he was in the world he was cheering on his beloved Xavier Musketeers. In the early 1990’s the industry began to change and upon the closure of his bottle cap business he turned his focus to another passion, commercial and residential development.

He and Lynn returned to Laredo in 1995. Del was an active partner in Trautmann Development, developing the lands that were once used for the family’s produce business. Del took the business beyond Laredo and began investing, managing, and developing properties in many Texas cities. Wanting to be in a more central location, Del and Lynn moved to Austin, Texas where they built their dream home and many new friendships. Through building their Austin home, Del got to live out his dream of being an architect, pouring over every detail of the home he dreamed of building.

Traveling all over the great state of Texas inspired Del to follow an interest he had for a long time, and he started the arduous process of obtaining his pilot’s license, he came close to completing it, but he was always traveling for business. With Del constantly on the move visiting the many properties, he decided it was time to add another important member to the family, to keep Lynn company while he was away, they adopted their beloved Wheaten Terrier, Bailey. Bailey was Del’s constant companion, keeping an eye on the yard, accompanying him on visits to Home Depot. Wherever Del was, Bailey was close behind. Del and Lynn lived in Texas for twenty six happy years. In 2021, Del, Lynn, and Bailey returned to Tampa, Florida to be closer to their children who live there. Del and Bailey spent their afternoons relaxing on their balcony looking over Tampa Bay. Bailey remained a comfort to Del.

Del passed away, peacefully in his sleep, early in the morning of Thursday, July 3, 2025.

He is preceded in death by his Mother and Father, Delbert Andrew Trautmann Sr. and Margaret Egner Trautmann.

Del is survived by his five siblings and their spouses and families. His loving wife of sixty years, Lynn Davis Trautmann, his children: Delbert “Del” (Lori) Trautmann, Katherine “Katie” Dierks, Christopher “Chris” (Cindy) Trautmann, Kara (Tod) Ralston, and eleven grandchildren: Delbert “Drew” (Daniela) Trautmann, Matthew Trautmann, Brian Trautmann, Avery Dierks, Erica Dierks, Miles “Mac” Dierks, Christopher “CJ” Trautmann, Joshua Trautmann, Kieran Ralston, Finley Ralston, Dylan Ralston and great grandson Cooper Trautmann.

Del will always be remembered for his quick wit, love of a good laugh, and being the heartbeat of his family. He was the spark behind countless adventures, and the steady force at the center of so many cherished memories. Del “El Tigre” Trautmann still roars in the stories, the laughter, and the love that he shared every day.

A visitation will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33609. A funeral mass will occur from 1:00 PM followed by a reception from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Blount & Curry Life Event Center, 605 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL 33609.

The family would like to ask that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in Del’s name to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Memorial Hermann Foundation, or Xavier Men’s Basketball.