Barney Warlick

Byron Anthony Warlick. Ninety years seems like such a short time. The world should stop for a moment with the passing of this wonderful man. His life was a model of hard work, integrity and caring for others. His love of family and friends was deeply felt by those who knew him. He would want us to celebrate a good life, not mourn. As his time grew near, tears of family flowed freely. His advice to us was to “perk up.” So, as you remember him, please honor his request to “perk up.”

Irl Allen Warlick and his wife Margaret celebrated the birth of their son, Byron, on November 9, 1923 in their home in Nehawka, Nebraska. Barney was one of six children, growing up on the family farm one mile west and one and a half miles north of Murray, Nebraska. His siblings were Virgil (who died at age two), Donald, Floyd, Alfred and Amy. Because of Virgil’s death at an early age, Byron was the eldest son.

During the depression, his young life was not easy. It was marked by hard work and responsibility for younger siblings. Work included helping his father plow fields with horses, plant crops and raise livestock. His trusty dog, Mack, would bring the cattle in every night. The family place included a two story house and a three story barn. He and his brothers had fun secretly sliding down the roof of the three story barn into piles of straw and manure. One such ride, down the roof, lead to a broken ankle for his younger brother, Don. Barney, who never lied, told his father that his brother slipped on a corn cob. Another favorite yarn related to coming home to find his mother burying her clothing. She and the dog had a most unpleasant encounter with a skunk. With five children, during the war, the Warlick family received a surplus of sugar which they traded for “half a hog” to feed their family. After years of plowing fields with horses, his father bought one of the first tractors in the area. With an understanding of machinery, life got a little easier.

Barney attended country school, usually walking or riding a horse. He remembered stopping often on the way home from school for a cookie from his neighbor, Mrs. Stone. This was at the request of her husband. Barney later learned this was Mr. Stone’s way of having someone check on his wife who had epilepsy. Barney also had fond memories of “old Doc Gilmore.” Along with many other young men, Doc Gilmore took Barney on hunts for rocks, bones and Native American relics. Barney remembered the young men receiving lectures from old Doc about the horrors of venereal disease. These lectures scared them all to death. Barney rigged a telephone to a friends house via a barbed wire fence. The mothers seemingly found this creation more useful than the sons. Barney was proud that Murray, Nebraska had the first community swimming pool. In later years, it was used less due to the fear of contracting polio.

Barney attended his first two years of high school in Murray, Nebraska. Only two years were offered in small towns. He completed his high school education in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. He recalled a “run in” with one of his teachers. Thereafter, he served as the Superintendent’s personal “assistant and chauffeur.” Apparently, the Superintendent took a liking to him and they spent much time together. During high school years, Barney took up boxing on Friday nights which was impressive to the young ladies. Experience showed him it was not to be a long career, as he was not a fighter.

During the year after graduation, Barney sustained a serious back injury and required a major operation at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha. He was hospitalized for six weeks. As related by his brother, Al, Byron lived constantly in a back brace for nearly two years. With this injury, the army would not allow him to enlist. His rehabilitation consisted of walking up to five miles daily through hills of eastern Nebraska. With this experience, he became an excellent marksman and hunter. His hunting helped feed the family through lean years.

After recovery from his back operation, he had various jobs including operating a trucking business with his brother, Don and working in George Sheldon’s machine shop in Nehawka, Nebraska. While working in the machine shop he, learned to weld and to work with all kinds of machinery. He found he was good with machines. During this time, he also rode a Harley (impressive to his grandsons) and bought a Chrysler with a “rumble seat”. In December of 1947 he went to work for the Nebraska Department of Roads. In early 1948 he attended training in basic engineering. He was then assigned to “District 5”. His crew surfaced and maintained roads including snow removal in western Nebraska. The first Christmas after Barney moved to western Nebraska, he returned home to Nehawka, after eight months away. Barney surprised his family, bringing Christmas presents for his parents and each brother and his sister. Barney's brother Alfred fondly remembers that particular Christmas as the first time everyone in the family received gifts.

His job expanded to survey work, construction, and general contracting. He served as District Maintenance Superintendent in McCook, Nebraska from 1953 until 1964. In 1964, he transferred to Lincoln, Nebraska and accepted a position creating the Access Control Office. This position dealt with the legal right of way and highway access. His office was instrumental in complying with the Federal Highway Beautification Acts of 1971 and 1972. His office also helped develop a break-away safety mailbox program which was federally mandated in the 1970’s. He served the Nebraska Department of Roads for 42 years, retiring in August of 1990. His service to the Nebraska Department of Roads was honored with the naming of a street in Lincoln, Nebraska, “Warlick Boulevard.”

Of greatest importance, was life with his family. On February 11, 1951 Barney married the love of his life, Donna June Dicke in the Methodist Church in Stratton, Nebraska. The two had met at a gathering for single men working for the Department of Roads in McCook. Donna came with a friend. She remembers Barney being “a little rough around the edges” and that she was a little “snotty” with him. Donna remembers Byron telling her she would have to be nicer for him to want to spend time with her. With that, their love story had begun and would span 63 years. They were the proud parents of two sons, Michael Allen and Dan Patrick. Later they were blessed with two daughters in law, Peggy and Ramona and subsequently, four grandsons, Zachary, Joshua, Sean, and Ian. Sean and Ian affectionately called Barney “Donut Grandpa.” With a deep love of family, he and Donna traveled to both ends of the state for family reunions. Memorial Day was the big annual fishing trip for Barney with brothers in law, Leonard, Hank and Jim. Barney was the camp chef. These characters also repaired and made a “seaworthy cabin cruiser” from the bone pile. They had lots of fun just thinking of getting it to sea (Swanson Lake). All of Barney’s nieces and nephews stayed at his Lincoln home at one time or another. The door was always open. Nothing made him happier than visiting grandsons Zach and Josh in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Sean and Ian in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Barney was an incredible carpenter and woodworker. As a young husband and father, he hand-dug a full basement under their small family home on West 10th Street in McCook, Nebraska. Following this project, theirs was the only house on the block with a basement. Neighbors came running when there were tornado warnings. In the early 1960’s, he built a larger home for his family. His wife and sons remember long hours with this project. He always tried to teach his sons these skills. Later in life he made house calls, to build decks, help with plumbing and remodeling. He always loved to work in his wood shop building whatever was asked of him. His daughters in law were grateful recipients of his talent, receiving a stereo cabinet, a rolling plant cart, a rocking chair, shelves and trays. When grandchildren arrived, he built a cradle, rocking horses, and solid creations which will become heirlooms. As his grandsons enrolled in shop classes, projects were driven hundreds of miles to grandpa’s woodshop in Lincoln for recommendations & help.

Another hobby, as a young man, was gun collecting. He was a member of a muzzle loading club, the Massacre Canyon Black Powder Club. He was a founding member of the club and enjoyed learning to build muzzle loaders. He taught his family an appreciation for gun safety.

Barney enjoyed genealogy and traced the history of his and Donna’s family. He loved talking of his grandparents English and German backgrounds. Genealogy records revealed Byron to be a Son of the American Revolution. He was very proud of this heritage and became deeply involved in the SAR chapter in Lincoln, Nebraska. He served a term as president of the Lincoln Chapter.

He found peace in his yard and garden. Always a good neighbor, he enjoyed visiting across the fence and sitting for conversation with a cup of coffee.

Barney had a soft heart for family and friends. Barney also had a soft spot for animals including his childhood dog, Mack, his two cats Jake and Jodie who kept him company in his wood shop, and in later years, Reilly, a yellow lab who spent countless hours at his feet.

Beloved by his family and those who knew him, Byron Anthony Warlick died on July 17, 2014 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Barney was born November 9, 1923 in Nehawka, Nebraska, the son of Irl and Margaret (Schomaker) Warlick. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2014 at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler - Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (269-375-2900). Following the service, a reception will take place in the Life Story Center. Barney is survived by his wife Donna; 2 sons: Michael (Peggy) and Dan (Ramona); and 4 grandsons; Zachary, Joshua, Sean and Ian. Please visit Barney’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read his life story, archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home.