Obituary of Thomas Trageser

Thomas Jay Trageser Thomas Jay Trageser, a custom carpenter and builder, died Tuesday at his mother's home in Erie after a prolonged illness. He was 60. Born in Cleveland, Mr. Trageser was the son of Helen Trageser, and the late William Trageser. He attended Millcreek public and parochial schools, and the Greenbrier Military School, in Lewisburg, W. Va. He graduated from McDowell High School in 1969. In 1971, he married Carol Bebell, in Erie, and the couple moved to a home they built in Venango, Pa. He was employed as a salesman for Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. until 1989, when the family moved to Arlington, Va. There, he established Trageser & Assoc., doing custom carpentry and commercial construction in the Washington, D.C. area. He closed the business and retired five years ago. Mr. Trageser had a big appetite for life, was great fun to be with, and never lost touch with his many close friends in the Erie area. He was an enthusiastic fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and also had a love of photography, golf, and pinochle, which he was playing with friends just hours before his death. In addition to his wife of 40 years, Mr. Trageser is survived by his mother, Helen Trageser, of Erie; two brothers, John, of Millersville, Md., and his wife Karen, and Andrew, of Pittsburgh, and his wife Susan. Also, three sisters, Christine Roylance, of Cockeysville, Md., and her husband, Frank; Terry Colwell, of Corry, Pa., and her husband John; and Wendy Onorato, of Erie, and her husband Paul. Also surviving are his son, Casey, daughter-in-law Jackie, and grandson, Nathaniel, all of Woodbridge, Va., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Tom was preceded in death by a daughter, Katie Ann, in 1984, and a son, Todd, in 1991. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 7 to 9:00 p.m. at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Road and are invited there on Friday for the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. conducted by the Rev. John Dyke. Burial will follow at the Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3642 West 26th Street, Erie, Pa., 16506. Enhance your memorial with a slideshow and video