John was born on March 7, 1938, in Evanston, IL to Leonard Sebastian and Gladys Maloney Tralmer. He grew up in the Chicago area and attended Fenwick High School in Oak Park, IL before moving to Oakdale, WI in 1954. He then attended Tomah High School in Tomah, WI and the University of Wisconsin (UW) in Madison where he received a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. Upon graduation John worked at Burnside Steel Foundry in Chicago, IL initially as a Research Metallurgist and subsequently as Assistant Chief Metallurgist. In 1964 he returned to the University of Wisconsin to receive his M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering after which he joined Shell Oil at the Wood River Research Center in Wood River, IL. He later transferred with Shell Oil to Emeryville Research Center in Emeryville, CA and the Westhollow Research Center in Houston, TX. John retired from Shell Oil in February of 1993.
While at the University of Wisconsin, John met the “love of his life”, Joanne Mildred Gilbert, and they were married in Loves Park, IL on October 3, 1964. John and Joanne raised two sons, Robert and Daniel. They lived in Houston, TX from 1972 until 2008 when they moved to Conroe, TX. They loved attending their kids and grandkids tee ball, baseball, soccer and band activities, square dancing with their friends at the Bluebonnet Squares, and time spent on their boat at Lake Conroe. John was a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Community from 1972-2008, and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe from 2008-2024.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joanne, and his older brother Leonard Joseph Tralmer. He is survived by his younger brother James Marshall Tralmer, son Robert, daughter-in-law Esther, son Daniel, daughter-in-law Cathy, and five grandchildren: Cynthia Tralmer, Brooke (Tralmer) Ramos, Jessica Tralmer, Christopher Tralmer, and Macy Tralmer.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 1:30pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 109 North Frazier Street, Conroe, TX 77301. Interment will be at Garden Park Cemetery, Conroe, TX.
In lieu of flowers, you are invited to make contributions to Devotion Hospice, 610 North Loop East, Suite 200, Conroe, TX 77301 or the charity of your choice.
