Stephen Traynor

   Stephen James Traynor, age 68 of Elmwood, died after a short but courageous battle with cancer on Friday, September 4, 2020 at home surrounded by his family.

   He was born July 30, 1952 to parents Willard “Jack” and Doris (Krause) Traynor in Plum City. He graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1970 and attended UW-RF, graduating in 1974. He dairy farmed with his parents before pursuing a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling at UW-Stout. Following that he was employed by the New Richmond School District as a school counselor for 28 years where he touched countless lives with his kind and caring manner.  The other joy of his lifetime was agriculture. He enjoyed raising Black Angus beef cattle and crops with his wife and children.  Steve was known for his hard work and passion in caring for the land that he so loved.

   He was married in 1988 to the love of his life, Mary Dinon. They had two children, Chris and Sarah. Steve took great pride in always being there for his family. More recently his greatest blessings were his four granddaughters, whom he loved dearly.

   Steve was preceded in death by his father, Willard “Jack” Traynor. Survivors include his wife Mary, mother Doris, son Chris (Steph) Traynor, daughter Sarah (Trevor) Ellefson, granddaughters Rylee, Lillian, Nora, and Braelynn, sister Carol (Jerry) Bressler, sister-in-law Lori (Mike) Haight, nieces Nadine (Craig) Haas, Jamie (Ryan) Faber, Christina (Kevin) Kienlen, and their families, nephew Noah Haight, and nieces Brianna (Nicolai) Gerhartz and Mariah Haight, as well as many dear cousins and friends.

   Regrettably, due to restrictions caused by Covid-19, a private Mass and burial service for immediate family only will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Spring Valley officiated by Father Gerald Harris of St. Bridget Parish in River Falls.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stephen Traynor, please visit our floral store.