Snow and Fog, 34° F
(Nov. 1, 1925 - Aug. 11, 2012)
Warren Leon Spier of Emblem died peacefully at West Park Hospital on Aug. 11, 2012 following a long illness. He was 86.
He was born in Harrisburg, Pa., on Nov. 1, 1925 to Leon and Mildred Spier. The family moved to California, where Warren lived until the time he entered Military Service.
At the young age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy. He served in the Pacific Theater aboard the carrier, Intrepid. He was a tail gunner on an Avenger airplane. Warren achieved the rank of Seaman First Class. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. He also received the American Area Campaign medal, Victory Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal. He was honorably discharged in April of 1946.
Upon arriving back in the United States, he moved to Chicago, Ill., where he met, and later married, the love of his life, Marian Hogan. In 1954, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Laura. Shortly thereafter, Warren started working for the Frank G. Hough Company — later acquired by International Harvester. He worked there for almost 30 years. In 1970, the family bought a small farm in Bristol, Wis. In 1978, Marian lost her battle with cancer. Warren continued to live on the Bristol farm until 1997.
The family bought a farm and moved to Emblem, Wyoming shortly thereafter. Warren loved the peaceful setting of Wyoming very much. He enjoyed looking out his living room window at the beautiful Big Horn Mountains to the East every day — a view he cherished for the last 16 years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents Leon and Mildred, and his wife, Marian. Warren is survived by his daughter, Laura, son-in-law, Rodger, grandson, Wyatt, and his step-son, Craig Forrester.
Cremation has taken place following a private ceremony by the family. His remains will be buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D.
An online memorial is available at www.ballardfh.com
