Louis N Warner

June 11, 1917 - October 21, 2007

Louis Warner led a life saturated with honesty, integrity and respect. He spent his life balancing hard work with being a loving father and husband, succeeding in providing his family with everything they needed. Louis was a very modest man, proud of all his family, yet filled with a wonderful sense of humor. He tried every day to be the best man he could, and was rewarded with a life of happiness for his efforts.The year of 1917 fell right near the end of World War I, though the village of Custer in Custer Township, Mason County, Michigan, was far removed from the chaotic battlefields of Europe. Still, the war was on everyone’s mind, but entertainers like Charlie Chaplin helped to lighten the mood. It was in these uncertain times that Thomas Andrew Warner and his wife, Rosie Hattie Emilia (Peterson), welcomed the birth of their son, Louis Nicholas, on June 11, 1917.Louis grew up an only child on their family farm off Johnson Road in Custer Township. He learned to farm from his father, and enjoyed plowing the fields, while his mother worked as a bookkeeper, something that would later greatly influence Louis’s career in life. When not helping along on the farm, Louis liked to spend his leisure time fishing and playing with his dog, Jack. He received his education in the Custer Public Schools and graduated from Custer High in 1935. Because of the economic hardships of the Great Depression, there were no scholarships for schools, so Louis worked for a year to earn money to attend Western Michigan Teachers’ College, where he studied Accounting. He graduated from Western in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business.Louis began his teaching career in the Mesick Public Schools in Mesick, Michigan, where he worked for a year and a half before receiving his draft notice from the U.S. Army. Louis served in the Army Air Corps in the Finance Department as an auditor. He stayed in the states and went from base to base performing audits and handling payroll for officers, mostly in California. It was during this time that Louis went home on furlough to marry his best friend, Donalda MacLean, who was also a school teacher, on June 17, 1945, in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ludington.A year after saying “I do”, Louis received his honorable discharge from the military, and he joijned his new bride in Lansing, where she was teaching at Lansing Everett. He soon found work in an accounting firm in Grand Rapids, but after a short time, took a job in the Accounting Department of General Motors in Lansing. It was during this time that Louis and Donalda were overjoyed with the arrival of their only child, son James, born in 1953.In 1958, Louis decided to return to teaching and accepted a position at Lansing Community College, teaching accounting. Because this was a new school and the pay wasn’t so great, Louis moved on after seven years and began teaching at Northern Michigan University for one year. During this time, he also taught night classes at K.I Sawyer Air Base to earn some extra income. So not to uproot his family, Louis would commute home on the weekends, while his wife and son stayed in Lansing. Louis was then offered a teaching position at Ferris State College of Business, which was closer to his family, and offered better pay. For the next fourteen years, Louis taught Accounting at Ferris before retiring in 1981.After a fulfilling career, Louis took great pleasure in enjoying his retirement years with his beloved wife, Donalda. They began traveling extensively overseas, visiting places like Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Egypt, South Africa, Sweden, Germany and Great Britain. He was reluctant at first to travel to South Africa, but found the trip to be one of his most favorites. The couple also traversed this great country of ours, including an unforgettable trip to California, pulling a travel trailer. Louis loved to drive, so the trip was a breeze for him. Even while vacationing overseas, he would rent a car and do much of the driving. Louis was very knowledgeable about cars and maintained his own for many years. It is said that Accountants tend to be very meticulous with details, and this was exactly how Louis maintained his gardens – masterfully - like a “work of art.” During his retirement, he earned the designation of a “Master Gardner” through the MSU Extension Program. He would till the soil carefully, so it was just right, and tended to his berry bushes, plants and sweet corn with great delicacy. When it came down to just relaxing, Louis was happiest at their cottage on Mullett Lake, where he and his family spent many wonderful summers together.Louis lived a long and full life. From his humble beginnings on the farm in Custer, he worked hard to earn an education, support his family and enjoy the fruits of a good life. Louis went on to become a dedicated educator, who impacted thousands of lives during his many years of teaching. Above all, he loved his family dearly and wanted the best for them. He will be dearly missed.Louis N. Warner was called home by his heavenly Father on Sunday, October 21, 2007, after living a long and courageous life. He is survived by his wife, Donalda; his son, James L. (Diane) of Haslett, MI; and numerous cousins in the Ludington area as well as the Harvard area in Nebraska. He will be missed by all who knew him.Funeral services for Louis will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, at the Stephens Funeral Home in Scottville with Rev. Wayne Buskirk officiating. Visitation will be from 7 pm to 9 pm on Friday, October 26, at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Custer VFW hall following the services. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, 510 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48933, or to Ferris State University College of Business, 119 S. Street, Big Rapids, MI 49307. Arrangements are in the care of Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. - Stephens Funeral Home in Scottville.