Surrounded by his loving family, Warren Wells Quinlisk, age 88, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2013 in his home in Onalaska, WI. He was born in Wichita, Kansas on November 9, 1924 to Roberta Fern Martin and Leslie Alexander Quinlisk. His first wife was Mary Lynn Trousdale, whom he married in 1950. In 1991, he married Nancy Anna Boudreau.

Warren graduated from Wichita East High School in 1942. He began his college career at Kansas State in the ROTC. During his freshman year, Warren was called to World War II active duty, serving in the US Army from 1943 to 1946 as a combat engineer in the European and African Theatres. During WWII, he also trained for and qualified as a pilot and navigator. Toward the end of the war, he was sent to the Pacific Asian Theatre, stationed in the Philippines, before being honorably discharged as Private First Class.

Warren then completed his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State. A lifelong learner, Warren took associate degree classes in horticulture and woodworking. He used his horticulture knowledge creatively to link planting designs and growth targets to the environment. This included building a belt of trees that would resist erosion and provide food and shelter for wildlife. Woodworking was an art form for Warren, and he enjoyed making special items like toys and toy boxes, tool boxes, or little stools; carefully drafting the project before beginning the work.

Warren was active in the community throughout his life. Besides owning and operating L. B. White Company for 25 years, he held equipment patents. He was a Big Brother and Board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program, an Assistant Scout Master in Boy Scouts, and a legacy gift supporter of The Y/YMCA. Warren’s dedication to helping others deepened as he and Nancy, together with daughter Jane Ann, established CUAN (Gaelic for safe harbor) Foundation for the benefit of victims of domestic violence.

Throughout Warren’s lifetime he was responsible for planting more than 20,000 trees. Together with his wife, Nancy, they owned and operated a 100-acre arboretum. In recent years his friend, Robert Coe, joined Warren on a weekly jaunt to lovingly toil on “The Farm”. Through the years, friends and family have contributed to the farm’s beauty and to Warren’s purposeful endeavors of reforestation.

Warren was a life-long athlete, playing tennis up until recently. His love for tennis brought many friendships that were treasured deeply. He was a champion tennis and Ping-Pong competitor. At the age of 13, “the Wichita boy” had become nationally recognized as a Roque player and at the age of 17 he was runner-up in the All-age National Roque Championship. “Roque is an American variant of croquet played on a hard, smooth surface. Popular in the first quarter of the 20th century and billed “the Game of the Century” by its enthusiasts, it was an Olympic sport in the 1904 Summer Games.”

Warren is survived by his wife, Nancy Anna Quinlisk; his children, Jane Ann Quinlisk, Mary Patricia Quinlisk, Barbara (Steven) Helgeson, and William Quinlisk; and stepdaughters Rene’ (Todd) Jacobs-Guentner and Jamie (Daniel) Day. Warren was also a loving grandfather to Sara and Connor Helgeson, Trent Jacobs, Emily and Amelia Guentner, Emery, Hanna and Clare Day, and close grandson, Nathan Wong. He is survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, Godchildren, and special friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Roberta, two brothers, Leslie Alexander, Jr. and Martin Curtis and his stepmother, Verna Quinlisk.

Warren’s love for his family and the special time he made for each of his grandchildren will be missed and held close to us as we celebrate what a wonderful man he was to so many. His keen sense of conversation and of humor and the “Warren” stories will live forever in our hearts.

Pastor Jenny Arneson, who surrounded Warren and the family with spiritual care, will preside over a celebration of life memorial service to be held at Onalaska United Methodist Church, 212 4^th Avenue North, Onalaska, WI at 11:00AM on Saturday, November 9^th. Visitation will begin at 9:00AM and continue until the time of service. A military ceremony will be conducted immediately after the service at the La Crosse Country Club, 300 Marcou Road, Onalaska, WI with a luncheon following. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to one of three organizations that were important to Warren: The Y/La Crosse Area YMCA, CUAN Foundation, or the Onalaska United Methodist Church.

The family wishes to extend grateful appreciation to Gundersen Health System, especially Hospice, and the fine individuals throughout the clinic and hospital who provided loving care to Warren along his journey. Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family with final arrangements.