Bruce Trameri

Bruce Trameri

June 09, 1958 - November 22, 2025

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Obituary

Prairie du Sac – Bruce Alan Trameri, age 67, entered God’s Kingdom on November 22, 2025. Bruce was born on June 9, 1958, to parents Robert and Delores. He attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Grade School, Queen of Apostles High School, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Adams State College in Alamosa, CO, where he obtained his M.A. in Guidance & Counseling.  Early in his career, Bruce worked at Oklahoma State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the University of Northern Colorado.  He then worked in the financial services industry for VALIC in Fort Collins and subsequently for TIAA-CREF in Denver.  He returned to higher education where he retired from Colorado State University.  Two of Bruce’s favorite jobs included being a disc jockey and a bartender at Rusty’s in Middleton, WI.  He enjoyed running, motorcycling, listening to music on his vintage JBL speakers, reading, writing, detailing cars and putting numerous miles on their odometers, and making marathon road trips between Colorado and Wisconsin.  Bruce liked to refer to himself as “The Road Warrior.”  One of his friends liked to refer to Bruce as, “A legend in his own mind.”  Following the family tradition, he bought a sailboat and named it “Bona Vita V” (“Good Life”).  He quit playing golf early in his youth because he concluded that he already had enough problems.  Bruce had a great sense of humor, and he enjoyed making people laugh.  Somewhere along the way, he realized that this was a part of his purpose here on earth, and he took that responsibility seriously.  Bruce expressed his sincere thanks to his family, relatives, mentors, colleagues, and friends who helped him along his way. He is survived by his brother Mark, sister-in-law Julie; nephew Matthew (Stacy) and by his niece Katie (Logan) Buell; great-nieces Ellis and Molly, great-nephew Lennon; two aunts Dorothy and Karen and one uncle Richard, and by cousins Patty, Jim, Kim, Gail, David, and Michael.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Delores, and by his brother Scott.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 South Owen Drive, Madison at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 3, 2025, with Fr. Bill Nolan presiding.  A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at the church.  Interment will take place at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. The family wishes to express their appreciation for the care provided by Dr. Justine Bruce, Dr. Adam Burr, and Dr. Timothy McCulloch and the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center and Aimee Reed of Agrace Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison or to Luke House, Inc.

To view this obituary or leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

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Events

03
Visitation
Wed Dec 3, 2025 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CST
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church • 401 S Owen Dr, Madison, WI 53711
Get Directions
03
Mass of Christian Burial
Wed Dec 3, 2025 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church • 401 S Owen Dr, Madison, WI 53711
Get Directions

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Memories

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Dennis Bogott
Friend •
I just became aware of Bruce's passing and wish to add a memory. I met Bruce as my VALIC investment counselor at Colorado State University. We became friends over time through common interests including investing, riding motorcycles and having a beer on a hot day. We rode motorcycles one hot summer afternoon from Fort Collins to Estes Park in the mountains, a good day of talking and enjoying the road and scenery. We spent a couple hours in a bar and returned in the afternoon and had dinner where my lady friend joined us. We had occasional lunches but I retired and we lost touch. I am shocked to hear of his passing since he was always the picture of health to me. I am 12 years older and have good memories of our discussions and our interest in motorcycles. Godspeed, my friend.
BM
Becky Malley
Friend •
Bruce and I worked together at The University of Northern Iowa. We stayed I. Touch off and on; thankfully, we reconnected when he returned to WI. We kept up an active conversation via email and text since that return to WI. He was a terrific friend snd coworker. He kept me laughing for the last 41 years.
JB
Jeff Bauer
Friend •
Bruce was definitely one of a kind. The only man I knew who had a tinfoil collection to keep his cats off his couches and a Packers cheese hat! Bruce was my first friend and mentor working in Financial Services. He was always encouraging and helped me through the dark periods of raising kids and establishing a financial practice. He was truly a man of fashion and could rock sandals and socks with any outfit. He loved life, wine, and the packers. I loved razing him about those silly cheese heads. When I would bring my kids to the office, he would time them riding the elevator with his cheese hat on and laugh as the ran down the halls screaming, much to the chagrin of our neighbors in the building. Cheers to you Bruce, may you have an abundance of cheese curds for eternity and may your cup of Leinenkugel’s runneth over!
JB
Jeff Bauer
Friend •
Bruce was definitely one of a kind. The only man I knew who had a tinfoil collection to keep his cats off his couches and a Packers cheese hat! Bruce was my first friend and mentor working in Financial Services. He was always encouraging and helped me through the dark periods of raising kids and establishing a financial practice. He was truly a man of fashion and could rock sandals and socks with any outfit. He loved life, wine, and the packers. I loved razing him about those silly cheese heads. When I would bring my kids to the office, he would time them riding the elevator with his cheese hat on and laugh as the ran down the halls screaming, much to the chagrin of our neighbors in the building. Cheers to you Bruce, may you have an abundance of cheese curds for eternity and may your cup of Leinenkugel’s runneth over!
CM
Cherith Marchase
Friend •
I met Bruce when he enrolled at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO. He and my husband and another good friend in the graduate program were the best of friends. I too have known Bruce from 1981 onward. His Christmas cards were the first we ever received each year. I emailed him daily the last several months. Always corresponding with him, at least every 6 months. One of my fondest memories was taking he, Glade Cook, and Babes and our family up to our cabin in Woodland Park. Our youngest son, Matthew, (5), purposely dropped the skelton key into the outhouse pit. Bruce tried to retrieve it with a stick, but gave up very quickly, so did Glade. " Babes "got it out! We all laughed! He was a sweet, good looking man, kind and such a good friend. He will be missed. When he told us he didn't want any more treatments, I asked if he believed in Jesus Christ. He of course said he did. He had gotten everything in order. I told him your death will be like a reunion for you. Seeing family that has died before you, your good friends, espically Glade. He said that was true and he was looking forward to it! I know in my heart that I will see Bruce again, for eternity. I loved him! I will miss talking with him. We called him "Kulo Bruce", from Adams State College. Cherith Marchase
AS
Angi Sauk
Friend •
I have known Bruce since the 80’s when we played softball together in Madison. My first taste of Rocky Mountain Oysters was in a Greeley bar because of him. I remember him saying, “They are fresh water oysters in the rivers here”. I must have liked them so much I moved to Colorado in 1996. I will miss him dearly. I just wrote his Christmas card yesterday and had a strange feeling about getting it written this early. His humor and smile will be missed.

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