Ronald Paul Traggiai

Ronald Paul Traggiai

July 9, 1965 – July 21, 2019

Age 54

Preceded in death by his grandparents; father-in-law John Spreitzer; and niece Jacoba.

Survived by his wife of 28 years Lora Traggiai; children Veronica, Lauren and Tony Traggiai; parents Ron and Pat Traggiai; siblings Mary Beth Allen (Frank), Joe Traggiai and Michele Kwon (Mike); mother-in-law Shirley Spreitzer; sister-in-law Faith Evans (John); and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Memorial Mass: Saturday, July 27, 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 2302 Crawford St., Bellevue, with a Reception of Friends one hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to Midwest Cancer Center, Papillion, Columban Fathers or St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bellevue.

Ronald Paul Traggiai, affectionately known by his family as “Ronnie Paul”, was born July 9, 1965 to Ron and Patricia Traggiai in Sacramento, California. He spent most of his youth growing up in Bellevue, Nebraska. He and his family were members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where Ron later was an altar server and went to elementary school at St. Mary’s Catholic School. 

Ron went to Logan Fontenelle Middle School where he met his future wife, Lora Spreitzer, when they were both 15 years old. When he was 16 years old, his family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is where, together, they enjoyed as many chances as possible to go camping, hiking, and fishing up in the Colorado Rockies. Ron moved back to Bellevue to finish his high school education and graduated from Bellevue West High School in 1983. 

He married his High School sweetheart, Lora, on October 26, 1990 at St. Mary’s Church and from this union they celebrated the birth of their three children, Veronica, Lauren and Tony. 

Ron spent most of his career as a chef at various restaurants with his very first job being at Village Inn Restaurant wearing the Bucky the Bear mascot costume while waving at cars as they drove by. He also became well known cooking up some German favorites at Edelweiss Restaurant. Ron also had his own tropical fish store, Underwater Fantasies, that he managed for 10 years where his knowledge and expertise of raising fish and aquatic plants earned him the nickname of “The Fishman”. 

Ron loved the outdoors and spent much of his free time fishing and camping whenever he had the chance. He enjoyed gardening and had many plants that he would move outdoors and back indoors with the changing of the seasons. 

For years, every night before bedtime, Ron would always say to his children “goodnight, love ya, see you in the morning” in which they would reply, “goodnight, love ya, see you in the morning!” Ron’s battle with cancer ended and he is finally free from his pain. So with sadness in our hearts we say one last time, “goodnight, love ya, see you…..”