Deceased at the age of 70

Former WKO President Rudolf Trauner is dead

Trauner at his inauguration as WKO President on November 25, 2003.

(Bild: Chris Koller)

The former President of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Rudolf Trauner, has died. He passed away on Saturday, November 9, after suffering from severe Parkinson's disease. Trauner was a typical representative of the social partnership - just like the old school.

Trauner was born on February 8, 1954 in Linz, where he lived all his life. From 2003 to 2017, he was President of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKOÖ), and before that a member of parliament for the ÖVP. The former president always put "the common before the divisive", as the WKOÖ acknowledged in an obituary. "In his work - both as an entrepreneur and as a lobbyist - his values were important guidelines for him: Combining business and social issues, showing solidarity and living social partnership," it continues. In 2017, Trauner handed over his role to the current WKOÖ President Doris Hummer.

During his time at the WKOÖ, the doctor of social and economic sciences was also managing director of the eponymous Trauner publishing house, which his father Rudolf Trauner founded in 1963 and which his wife Ingrid increasingly took care of.

Trauner successfully continued the life's work of his father, who was also President of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce and before that a regional economic councillor.

Footballer and family man
Rudi Trauner was valued above all for his proverbial humanity. Supporting small businesses was a particular concern of his throughout his life. In his youth, he was also an enthusiastic footballer at SV Traunkirchen and in the under-21 team of LASK, where his father became a LASK legend as president.

Dr. Trauner is survived by his wife Ingrid, with whom he had an exemplary marriage and who looked after him devotedly in recent years. Ingrid Trauner: "I was in love with my husband until the very last hour". Together with their sons Rudolf and Bernhard, they were able to say goodbye in the family circle.

Condolences from politicians too
Politicians are also concerned. "Upper Austria has lost a great personality who made a huge difference in our country with his expertise and human greatness," said Governor Thomas Stelzer. His deputy Manfred Haimbuchner also expressed his condolences: "Rudolf Trauner has left a lasting mark on the Upper Austrian economy with his work." The state's political leaders expressed their full condolences to his family and relatives.