Doug Trumbower – Pardeeville, WI

Doug Trumbower is a life insurance agent in Pardeeville.  He’s “business with his briefcase” but “daring in his drysuit.”   His alarm clock is the sound of a ski boat.  Here’s his story:

“Skiing is the next best thing to having wings” — author Unknown

It’s 6:45 in the morning, the sun creeps up over the distant trees, and it’s the time of day many people reach for their first cup of coffee.  Doug Trumbower is behind his boat, hanging onto a rope. He’s a skier.  And on these days, he loves to fly across the water, straight into his dreamland. Doug Trumbower is now in his 60’s and has felt the wind in his hair all of his life.  At 6:45 he finds perfection.  All is calm, all is bright, and he’s rumbling to end this silent night.  “Usually the surface is glass-like,” he said.  “You can get a reflection off the water.  If your mirror at home isn’t working you can go out to the water.”

It’s almost a fairytale that Doug lives in a town named Pardeeville, and Park Lake is his Magic Kingdom.  Whenever possible he, his wife Sheryl, and his children are in, or on, the water.  As the shoreline zips by, Doug is usually grinning from ear to ear thinking, “This is pretty amazing.” It’s an eye-opening jolt of energy much greater than a double shot, nitro, blonde caffe Americano, latte concoction thingy.  “It’s good exercise.  It helps me get ready for the day.”

With a clear mind, Doug then spends the day helping his new and old friends. “I’m 18 with 43 years of experience,” he laughs.  Since entering the life insurance business in the mid-1980s, Doug has seen his earliest clients grow from needing to cover the needs of a young family to retirement planning.  “I’m going back to my clients I’ve had a long time and say ‘Let me talk to your kids.  I think I can give them a little insight.” He puts his experience to good use.  “I tell them ‘I’ve seen a lot. You can pick my brain about anything and I’d be surprised if I haven’t seen it already.’  I love to ask them questions and see if I can figure out a way to help them.”

People want to make good decisions.  He said that some of his clients who’ve been able to save a lot still want a small Final Expense product to make sure their burial costs are covered.  “People work hard and want to protect their money.  They don’t want their family to spend any of the money they’ve saved, for final expenses.”

It’s not certain whether Doug will work longer, or ski longer.  There’s a good chance he’ll be doing both for a long time.  “My oldest daughter said, ‘You’ll be in your 80’s.  You’ve got to find somebody to talk to.” And he really doesn’t have problem with that.  This year he introduced two neighbor girls to skiing.  Now, at 10:00 in the morning, they’ll knock on the door and ask Sheryl if Doug can come out to ski (play.) Sheryl says, “Probably after 4:00, and bring at least one of your parents.”  He’s the youngest 60-year-old you’ll ever see.

Life is good in Pardeeville.  Life is good for the Trumbowers.  “My kids usually say about me, ‘My Dad taught me to work hard and smart, be awesome as you can, love people, and have fun with them.”  Whether it’s on the water or at the kitchen table, Doug can offer his friends the same advice: Stay on your feet, and keep your head above water.

You can reach Doug at 1-608-843-3300.  He’ll probably be busy until about 8:00.