James Edward Traut

Jim was the son of Edward and Helen (Pedersen) Traut. He is survived by daughters Colleen Nichols and Jill Traut; his sister, Carol Traut; and his ever loyal, well-loved, but occasionally “pesky” cat, Neko.

In high school, Jim was selected as a Presidential Scholar and earned a scholarship to the University of Nebraska where he received a Bachelor of Science. After serving as a pilot in the Air Force, Jim completed graduate studies in Material Science Engineering at University of New Mexico. For most of his career he worked as an engineer at Hewlett-Packard and later Agilent Technologies.

He loved to travel around the world and experience other cultures. He went on several cycling or walking tours with his adventure-loving nephew, Matt Carmenita, and daughters. His home was adorned with eclectic art he collected on his travels, each piece with its own meaningful anecdote. Athletic all his life, he participated in many sports including running, cycling, ultimate frisbee, and handball. As an avid gardener, he enjoyed caring for the many colorful plants in his garden and home. He was a reader, deep thinker, and great conversationalist on many topics. His humor was often dry, but he could also laugh at the silly things in life.

He was a gentle soul and will be missed by friends and family alike. A private memorial will be held at a later date. If you wish to honor his memory, please consider donating to your local animal rescue in appreciation of his connection to animals and the many pets he cared for throughout his life.