Paul D. Warren Obituary (1933

Paul D. Warren, age 84 of Blair, passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at Crowell Home in Blair. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 1, 2018 at 10:30 AM at Country Bible Church in Blair. Luncheon will follow. Graveside services will be held at the Tekamah Cemetery at 1 PM. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 31 beginning at 4 PM with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 PM at Campbell Aman Funeral Home. Paul grew up in rural Burt County near Decatur, Nebraska as one of six children born to George and Gertrude (Thomas) Warren. As with most depression era farm families, life would be considered tough by today’s standards. But life was full of love, hard work and games/competitions between siblings and friends. Paul attended Elm Creek Country School in rural Burt County and graduated from Decatur High School in 1950. Paul married Beverly Jean Wedgewood of Tekamah, NE at a service in Council Bluffs, IA on July 12, 1954. Their marriage blessed them with 3 children; Rhonda (Steve) Baker of Spartanburg, South Carolina; Jeff (Julene) Warren of Blair, NE; and Joe (fiancée Roxane Bukowski) Warren of San Diego, CA. Grandchildren include Emily Kelley and Jackie (Jake) Foster, both of Spartanburg, South Carolina; Clay Warren of Blair, Nebraska and Kane (fiancée Breanne Magill) Warren of Tekamah, Nebraska. Great grandchildren Jacob and Kayelee Foster. Paul was a member of Country Bible Church in Blair and faithfully served our Lord as a witness of his deep founded faith and as a role model through the Christian love he showed for others during his life. Paul was baptized into a life with Christ at First Baptist Church in Tekamah, NE. He knew that his life on earth was a precursor to an eternity in Heaven. Paul spent the majority of his work life employed in various capacities at Western Electric/AT&T in Omaha. Through the years, many life-long friendships were formed through daily carpools to and from Blair and work. Paul retired from what had become Lucent Technologies in 1992 after 33 years, at age 59. For several years after retirement Paul worked for the Blair Golf Course mowing fairways and helping with course maintenance and then settled into what became a long “2nd career” as a delivery driver/dispatcher for Woodhouse Ford/Chrysler/Plymouth. He reluctantly gave up his driving duties in 2011 at the age of 78. He truly loved driving for Woodhouse and hanging out with the other “Geezers”. Paul was an avid competitor and sportsman. He loved the spirit of a good game…most any game. Whether baseball or football in his youth or slow pitch softball, bowling, horseshoes or just about anything that could be turned into a competition as an adult, he had the uncanny ability to know that games were played as an enjoyment of life. If he won today but lost tomorrow, there was always the next day to try again. Cards, puzzles and board games could be the foundation of a good competition. Paul loved all things outdoors. From gardening and yard work to hunting and fishing he undertook all projects with the same endless energy. He could make almost any activity into a sport if you wanted to challenge him on who could plant the most tomatoes or who could catch the most or biggest fish. Paul and brother Raymond were perennial Horseshoe Pitching Champions at the 4th of July celebration in Tekamah. Each year they would show up and complain about how little practice time they had leading up to the event, just before they were again crowned champions. Summers typically included an annual fishing trip to Minnesota, most often with Mary Lou, Wedge, Kelly and Jay. Paul and Beverly enjoyed a number of trips to Las Vegas over the years usually joined by Raymond and Ann or Bob and LaDonna or other family and friends. Paul loved his desserts and could always find room for a cookie or a piece of cake but he especially loved ice cream. Any flavor, topping, cone, bowl or milk shake. When offered ice cream bars with his meals at Crowell he was most often known to say; “Probably should.” Paul was preceded in death by parents, George and Gertrude (Thomas) Warren. Father and mother-in-law Roy and Mamie (Johnson) Wedgewood. Brothers Tom and Lloyd Warren. Sisters Joan Dorn and Mary Lou Wedgewood. Brother-in-laws Tony Lewis, John Dorn, Lyle Wedgewood, Larry Hennig, Jerry Miles, Merwin Georgeson and Harold (Wedge) Wedgewood. Also preceding Paul were sister-in-laws Ardie Hennig, Evelyn Miles and Doris Georgeson. Also noted in passing, cousin and very special life’s friend, Bob Warren. Paul is survived by his wife Beverly, children Rhonda (Steve), Jeff (Julene) and Joe (Roxane). Grandchildren Emily, Jackie (Jake), Clay and Kane (Breanne). Great grandchildren Jacob and Kayelee. Brother Raymond (Ann) Warren. Sister-in-laws Joyce Lewis and Joan Wedgewood. 38 nieces and nephews. And special family friend, LaDona Warren.