Dr. Trautrimas was 81 when he died Sunday, Jan. 7, at Nebraska Medicine with his wife, Patricia, at his side. She is Professor Emeritus of English and the Study Abroad Advisor at Midland.

Overall, Dr. Trautrimas taught Spanish and other languages for more than 50 years. After his retirement from the then Midland Lutheran College in 2000, he continued to teach English as a second language to Spanish-speaking employees at Fremont’s Homel Foods Corp. plant.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by their daughter, Michelle (Phillip) Wood, and son, Marc Trautrimas.

Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Thursday with the family present from 6-8 p.m. at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel, 1249 E. 23rd St. in Fremont. The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, 3200 E. Military Ave. in Fremont. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Graceland Park Cemetery, 42nd and L streets in Omaha.

While at Midland, Dr. Trautrimas and his wife led many trips to Europe, opening new lands and cultures to a generation of students. The tradition continues today with Pat Trautrimas leading study abroad opportunities.

Born in Lithuania, Dr. Trautrimas and his family immigrated to Germany in 1941 and to Nebraska after his family was sponsored by the Hoegemeyer family of rural Hooper. He attended Scribner High School and graduated from Omaha South High School. In 1958 secured a position teaching Spanish and German to students at Fremont Junior High.

In 2008, Dr. Trautrimas told the Fremont Tribune he enjoyed his time at Midland.

“It was fun and it kept me young,” he said. “I kept telling my students I was 39 years old, long after I had passed that age. I still feel 39.”