Ardell Traeger

Ardell Ralph Traeger of White Heath, Illinois, was born on September 6, 1949, in Mascoutah, Illinois, and passed away on May 3, 2026. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death and welcomed into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Selma Traeger of Mascoutah, Illinois. He is survived by his wife, Joan Estock of White Heath; his son, Aaron Traeger (Megan) of Normal, Illinois, and their children Avery, Amelia, and Abby; his son, Adam Traeger (Courtney) of Mt. Zion, Illinois, and their son Austin; his step-son, Nate Estock (Jess Trotter), and their children Sophie, Jack, and Alina; and his step-son, Matt Estock and his son Kai. His beloved fur babies Bittie, Bubby, and Frostie. Ardell loved being around people. He had a gift for telling stories and jokes, and everyone who interacted with him felt heard and loved. His laugh was contagious—especially when he was laughing at something he had just said. He cared deeply for others and truly knew no stranger. His career as a “meatman” gave him the flexibility to be present for his kids’ school events, sports, and activities. Much of his time was spent traveling to grocery stores throughout Central Illinois, not just for work, but to connect—sharing conversations, laughter, and stories with people along the way. His greatest joy was his grandchildren. Nothing stood in the way of him attending their events or simply stopping by to spend time with them. He probably gave them too many treats, encouraged just a little more mischief than he should have, and gave enough hugs to last a lifetime. In the later years of his life, Ardell was burdened by Lewy Body Dementia. Even as his memory faded, he never lost his ability to connect with people. He continued telling stories, joking, and bringing joy to those around him. Our family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care he received from the staff at Memory Haven of Tolono. He will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a gift to the Austin Traeger Special Needs Trust. This fund has been established to ensure Austin is cared for and supported throughout his life—something Ardell deeply valued.

Checks may be made payable to “Austin Traeger Special Needs Trust” and may be left at the funeral home or mailed to:

Austin Traeger Special Needs Trust 662 Bucks Lair Mt. Zion, IL 62549

Please join Ardell’s family in sharing memories, photos and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation will be held on Thursday May 14th, 2026, from 10am-12pm at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Champaign Chapel 710 N Neil St. Champaign, IL. 61820 a service will follow at 12pm. Ardell will be interred at Sunset Memorial Park 3901 N. Vermilion Danville, IL. with military honors performed by post 210.