Family's Fence Becomes Packers Shrine

Along Oakwood Road, residents put up fences to protect their property. One family's fence would make trespassers do the Lambeau Leap.

The Trautner family, of the 1100 block of E. Stonewood Drive, are die-hard Packers fans. Husband-and-wife Duane and Jeanine were both born in the Milwaukee area with green and gold in their blood.

"We were both born Packers fans," Duane said. "Our bond is our great love of the Packers."

As a testament to their devotion, they traveled to San Francisco 10 years ago to watch the Packers play on their honeymoon.

Since then, they have added two new fans to their family: Anna, 7, and Grace, 3. As babies, both girls were brought to Green Bay to be registered on the season-ticket list. The girls have a wardrobe of Green Bay shirts and pink jerseys.

The other family member is an 8-year-old black cat named Lambeau.

The Trautner home welcomes visitors, football fans or not, to Packer country with three proud Green Bay flags, a birdhouse and a sign. Their newest addition has been their fence, which can be seen on Oakwood Road between Shepard Avenue and McGraw Drive.

"The Packers fence was painted this year," Duane said. "I did the fence two or three weeks ago. When I was out there, people loved it and would honk as they drove by. We picked up decorating the outside of the house after the Packers won the Super Bowl."

Although the green-and-gold fence looks finished, Duane says he's far from done. He's going to add the championship years, retired jersey numbers and paint the north side of the fence brown. His intention is to rival a famous fence near Lambeau Field.

The Trautner fence protects their home, family and precious football heirlooms. As one travels to the basement, they'll follow a bright yellow stairway down to a shrine full of autographed posters, helmets and pictures of players. The basement is filled with the perfect Packers viewing area, including an entertainment center, more memorabilia and football beanbag chairs for the girls.

With less than 24 hours till the Packers season opener, the entire family is excited. Duane and Jeanine have tickets for tonight's game, which Duane predicts will be a 34-20 Packers victory over the New Orleans Saints.

"We'll be in Green Bay the whole day," Duane said. "It'll be our date day in God's land."