W.W. Warner 1919-2010
March 22, 2010
Merchants Bonding Company mourns the loss of W.W. Warner
 Wefel "W.W." Warner died Friday, March 19, 2010, of esophageal cancer. Private family services will be held at the Cownie Chapel, Central Presbyterian Church. A visitation will be held Wednesday March 24th at Westover Funeral Home, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Wefel was born in Des Moines and attended Hubbell Grade School and Roosevelt High School. He was a 1941 graduate of Colgate University, Hamilton, NY. He married Nadine Bigelow the afternoon he graduated from Colgate. The wedding ceremony was performed by her father, the Reverend Clarence Bigelow. Nadine died September 3, 2004. They had a happy marriage of over 60 years. Their children, Jan Taylor and the late Bill Warner, along with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a major part of their many wonderful years together. He later married Barbara Bradley, a friend of many years. While their time together was limited, they enjoyed family and friends along with travel and vacationing in Minnesota. They often mentioned they were so pleased with the decision to be married.
He was Chairman Emeritus of Merchants Bonding Company where he was employed for more than 60 years. He was also co-founder of Nations Bonding Company domiciled in Austin, Texas, and past president of Northern Casualty Company which specializes in surety bond reinsurance. Merchants Bonding Company is now managed by the fourth generation of the Warner Family.
He was a member of Colgate University's Alumni Board, the President's Club and school athletic council. He was also past president of the Des Moines Club, Wakonda Club, a director of Eldorado Country Club, in California and a past member of Des Moines Rotary, along with a number of insurance organizations. His main hobby was playing golf at Wakonda. For some 20 years he was part of a regular foursome with Ray Murphy, Bob Mannheimer and Ben Gibson.
In 1942, he enlisted in the Army as a private. After basic training he was accepted for Officer's Training School and upon completion, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He was an officer with supporting troops of the First Engineer Brigade participating in the Utah Beach landings in Normandy. He was involved with campaigns in Northern France and the RhineLand. His awards included French Croix de Guerre, three battle stars and four overseas service bars. He was promoted three times during the European Campaign and discharged with the rank of Major U.S. Army.
He had an interest in sports both as a spectator and participant. His father began taking him to sporting events when he was 8 years old. In 9th grade at Roosevelt, he was on the swimming team. His interests then changed to basketball where at Roosevelt he was first team All-City and at college, a member of the Colgate basketball team. One game in his memory was finally beating Syracuse his senior year.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nadine, his son, Bill, and his great-grandson, Colton. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, daughter Jan Taylor (Lloyd), daughter in law Melissa Warner; six grandchildren, Larry Taylor, Jeff Taylor (Barbara), Bill Taylor (Karen), Bill Warner Jr. (Amanda), Nick Warner and Alex Warner and nine great grandchildren, Hayden Warner, Jessica, Melanie, Hannah, Charlie, Katie, Maggie, Ryan and Kaitlyn Taylor, and his step children, Ann (Terry) Harrmann, Kay (Joel) Novak and Sid Bradley.
If you wish, the family suggests memorial gifts be given to Hospice of Central Iowa or Central Presbyterian Church.
Memorial Gifts to Hospice of Central Iowa online
Hospice of Central Iowa Foundation
2910 Westown Parkway, Suite 200
West Des Moines, IA 50266-1332
Memorial Gifts to Central Presbyterian Church
3829 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312
Link to Westover Chapel/Iles Funeral Home to Sign Guest Book and Share Memories
|
