BOONE, Iowa—John Thomas Warren, 77, of Boone, Iowa, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at the Eastern Star Masonic Home. He was born on June 6, 1946, in Des Moines, Iowa to Michael and Anna (Murphy) Warren.
John graduated from Waukee High School in 1964 where he played basketball and found his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Janice Felt. John and Janice were married on January 15, 1966, at the St. Boniface Church in Waukee, Iowa.
He worked for Firestone and then joined the Iowa National Guard where he was a Warrant Officer and full-time Communication Technician at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. In 1977, John moved his family to Boone, Iowa, when he became part owner of Fairchild Communications, Inc. He retired in 2015 due to health issues.
John was an Iowa Hawkeye super fan, especially basketball. You learned never to call during a game if you didn’t want to get in trouble! He loved following his granddaughters around to all their sporting events and even learned to enjoy tennis and volleyball. He was known to keep his own personal stat book on each girl and sport. His granddaughters were his pride and joy! To his great-grands, he was known as “Papa Santa Claus”.
John was the king of grilling and made a steak that no one could ever top. He loved spaghetti and meatballs and cherry pie, but don’t ever think to put mayonnaise, mustard, or any condiment on his ham sandwich if you didn’t want to get an earful.
Some of the best times for John were the extended family vacations to Canada fishing, eating, and drinking beer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Mikey and Tom; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Leland and Helen Felt; and brothers-in-law: Darrell, Duane, and Dennis.
John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Janice Warren; daughter, DeNae (Tim) Foster; granddaughters: Jorden (Taylor) Coon and Courtney (Ryan) Titman; five great-grandchildren: Casen, Lane and Crew Titman and Eleanor and Evelyn Coon; two brothers: Fred (Sherri) Warren and Dan (Marlene) Warren, and many special nieces and nephews.
A private family graveside service will be held at the Waukee Cemetery in Waukee, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family to use at their discretion.
The Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 609 7th Street, Boone is assisting the family with the arrangements.
