Warren Gilbert Nelson was the first born child of Margaret and Noble Nelson, born on December 31, 1940, in Culver City California. His parents always lived in California, and they moved several times during Warren's childhood. They lived in Schafter, Bakersfield, Porterville, and Sacramento, eventually settling in San Jose, California. After Warren's birth, Margaret gave birth to Steven, William, and Marilee, Warren's brothers and sisters. They spent summers in Wisconsin and much time at Camp Nelson, riding horses, fishing and eating Margaret's wonderful cooking.
After Warren finished high school, he attended the University of California Berkeley and graduated with a degree in Political Science. He often talked about his time at UC Berkeley, listing the names of the professors he had studied under during this politically-charged time.
During his time at UC Berkeley, he met Irene Boltz, his future wife. Warren and Irene were married in 1965. Irene gave birth to their daughter Chandra Irene Nelson in 1968. Chandra was Warren's only child. During their marriage, Warren and Irene spent many nights listening to famous musicians just getting their start in San Francisco's budding nightclub scene, then getting ticketed for speeding across the Bay Bridge driving home in Irene's convertible! Warren and Irene divorced in 1979.
Warren loved meeting new people and talking with them, so a career in sales came naturally. He worked in gem sales and managed a Best Products showroom before going to work in his father's Ford tractor business with his brother William.
Warren had a passion for the game of Bridge. He was a Life Master Bridge player and played with Omar Sharif, Warren Buffet, and Bill Gates, to name just a few of the famous people he played with. He and his long-time girlfriend Annee Christensen spent 20 years traveling the world and playing Bridge together. They stayed in castles in Europe, visited Singapore, rode in gondolas while being serenaded by musicians, and spent much time in Warren's favorite town in Mexico, Zihuatanejo. The two loved to travel and eat fine food at the French Laundry and other well-known restaurants. Warren truly loved life and lived it to the fullest!
In 2007, Warren's first and only grandchild, Andrew was born. Warren loved Andrew with all his heart and enjoyed visiting him in the Bay Area after he moved to Wisconsin in the spring of 2007. He especially loved having Andrew, Chandra, and her husband Andre, visit him in his new home. Warren enjoyed watching Andrew grow and excel in school, basketball, skateboarding, and Parkour.
On May 28, 2007, Warren packet up his Mercedes and drove to his new home in Wisconsin. He had enjoyed the summers there as a child, so much so that he decided to retire there. He loved the people, the lakes and the slower pace of life. He loved that everyone cared about each and every person in the community. He also enjoyed getting away from the Bay Area traffic and spending his days fixing up his new home, shopping for antiques, and fishing.
His greatest joy was running for and being elected as a County Supervisor, for multiple terms. He would send articles from the paper, where he was cited for his controversial comments! Warren was very opinionated and never missed an opportunity to tell people exactly what he thought! His daughter was grateful that he was welcomed into the Amery community despite his many opinions. He loved living in Amery and was grateful for the many friends he made and how kind people were to him.
The last three years, Warren so enjoyed spending time with his dear friend Ruth Mugerauer dining, antiquing, and acting like a couple of teenagers! They would take off on adventure, with the top down on his car and an empty tank of gas, just to see where they would end up. Yes, as you guessed, Warren was not a planner! He lived life his way and always to the fullest!
He will be greatly missed by his daughter Chandra, who enjoyed talking to him every day. He would laugh at her stories of California life and she would say, "Laugh it up Chuckles," which would only make him laugh harder. She will miss picking up the phone to ask him how to cook a whole squash in the oven, a Wisconsin thing he learned, and to tell him the latest news about Andrew!
Warren was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Steven. He is survived by his daughter Chandra Nelson-Robak and her husband Andre Robak, grandson Andrew, brother William, sister Marilee (Craig) Eerkes, cousins Pat (Jim) Anderson and Susan (Gary) Bohn, his dear friend Ruth Mugerauer, as well as many other loving relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the Williamson ~ White Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Amery, Wisconsin and 1 hour prior to funeral services. A memorial service will take place at 11 am on Monday, March 20, 2017 at the funeral home. A private family interment will take place at a later date in California.