Mr. Leonard George "Penny" Trampe, 99, of Metropolis, passed away at 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the Southgate Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Metropolis, IL. He was born October 19, 1916 to Otto Earnest and Margaret (Mitchell) Trampe on the Trampe farm near St. Stephens Lutheran Church at Midway. His mother died when he was three, and he was raised by his Grandmother and Grandfather Mitchell on the Mitchell farm near Midway until his father married Alvina (Baumer) Wiedeman who was a charter member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Leonard was confirmed at St. Paul's in 1931, sang in the choir, was a member of Luther League, and later served on the church council. He attended Clark Grade School, Belgrade School, and Metropolis High School where he enjoyed playing football. He was united in marriage to Ruth Eileen Schluter on January 21, 1940. He worked cutting gloves at the Good Luck Glove Company from April 1941 until he received his orders to report for induction into the U.S. Navy on Saturday, April 21, 1945. He did his basic training in the Great Lakes Training Center in Chicago and was then sent to the Philippine Islands serving in the 93rd Navy Seabees, a Construction Battalion, during WW II. He was discharged on March 8, 1946 receiving his Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon and his World War II Victory Ribbon. After returning from the War, he purchased his father's farm on U.S. 45 and began farming. As a young man he enjoyed square dancing and Penny would call out the dances. He had a successful feeder pig operation and also worked for Electric Energy Inc. (EEI) in Joppa in the coal handling department as a heavy equipment operator. He continued farming until the State took his property and built I-24. He moved the home, which he had helped his father build, to North Avenue near Weaver Creek Church and built a new family home at 7 Crestview Drive in Metropolis. He retired in 1981 and was active taking up golf and completing wood building projects for the family and friends. He enjoyed traveling and he and Ruth traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Italy, and France as well as Germany visiting with the Trampe family in Lavelsloh, Germany. He always enjoyed playing card games, especially with the Krempasky's, and watching the Cardinal baseball games. Later in life he began playing pool and won many trophies playing competitive pool with the Metropolis league until December 2015. He also kept a small garden growing tomatoes and vegetables. Penny was always patient and kind doing whatever he could for others. The last few years he was a constant companion and a great help to his wife, Ruth. He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years, Ruth Eileen (Schluter) Trampe; his parents, Otto and Margaret (Mitchell) Trampe; one brother, Howard Trampe; one sister, Virginia Busclas Mallams; and one half brother, Bill Trampe. Survivors include four children, Leonard Clyde and wife Evelyn (Bergdoll) Trampe of Morrison, CO, Sharon Ruth and husband Dan McKavanagh of Metropolis, IL, Kenneth Lee and wife Helen (Thompson) Trampe of Slocomb, AL, and Ernie Joe and wife Donna (Sundmaker) Trampe of Paducah, KY; nine grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 9, 2016 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Metropolis with Rev. Timothy A. Bean officiating. Burial will follow in Metropolis Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Sunday evening, May 8, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Aikins-Farmer Funeral Home in Metropolis and on Monday, May 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy to be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Elevator Fund, PO Box 816 Metropolis, IL 62960. Online condolences may be left at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.

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