Wendell Dane Traub, age 88

September 17, 1937 – December 13, 2025

Wendell Dane Traub, age 88, of Dieterich, Illinois, passed away at 1:50 PM – Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham, Illinois.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM (Noon) on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with a service following at the Meyer Funeral Home in Dieterich, Illinois. The burial will be in the Drummond Cemetery in rural Neoga, Illinois.  A meal will be held immediately following the service.  In loving memory of Wendell memorials may be made to the made to Dieterich Sportsbackers.  The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.

Wendell was born on September 17, 1937, in Lucas Township, Effingham County, Illinois, the son of the late Henry (Jack) and Luetta (Schwartz) Traub.  He married Judy K. Ballinger Traub, on September 27, 1973, in Effingham, Illinois, and she preceded him in death May 23, 2020.

Wendell dedicated many years of service to Crossroads Press in Effingham, Illinois, before enjoying his retirement.  Outside of work, he was a lifelong horse lover and took great pleasure in watching Dieterich sports. He followed women's softball at all levels.  In his downtime, he enjoyed UFC and boxing, and found comfort in classic Westerns, with a special fondness for John Wayne and the series Gunsmoke.

Wendell is survived by his children and stepchildren: Cindy Traub (Kevin Spaight) of Sunset, Texas; Brad Traub of Sierra Vista, Arizona; Kris (Monica) Traub of Altamont, Illinois; Wendy Will (Clark Ashbaugh) of Effingham, Illinois; Lisa (Chuck) Fritscher of Dieterich, Illinois; Jeffrey Carlson of Champaign, Illinois; and Danny (Kim) Carlson of Highland, Illinois

Grandchildren: Sean Batura, Nick (Elisha) Batura, Ashley (Dylan) Koester, Dustin (Jody) Will, Tiffany (Clint Lohman) Will, Shaena (Andrew) Wilder, Austin (Hannah) Traub, Valerie (Bill) Sanguinetti, Vanessa (Charlene Rose) Fritscher, Kaitlin Carlson, and Ben Carlson along with Great-Grandchildren: Magdalena Batura, Wyatt Will, Kaylee Will, Macy Will, Mavery Will, Sutton Koester, McKenna Koester, Addisyn Koester, Marlow Traub, Lincoln Sanguinetti, Ada Fritscher-Rose and Lyndie Fritscher-Rose.

Wendell is also survived by his brother, Terry Traub of Carrollton, Illinois, and his sister-in-law Peggy Ballinger of Effingham, Illinois.

Wendell was preceded in death by his wife, Judy; his parents; his stepmother, Agnes Traub; his brother, Wilton Traub and his sister, Wanda Mann and her husband Dick, and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Joyce Traub, Bill and Carol Ballinger, Ruby Tabor, Bob Ballinger, and Wanda and Clifford West.