Jim Warner

Dr. Warner was born on November 19, 1946 in Fresno, California to Lavon and George Wesley Warner. Dr. Warner grew up in Fresno with his sister and two brothers. He loved his mother very much and always tried to provide and care for her during her lifetime. He was extremely athletic and smart as a boy. He attended McLane High School, where he was a varsity wrestler and a varsity player on a two-time state champion football team. It was in high school where he met the love of his life, Kathy. They were married in 1965 and together raised six children during their forty-three years of marriage. Dr. Warner won a full ride scholarship to UC Santa Barbara in football, but turned it down to stay near Kathy. He instead went on to attend California State University, Fresno, where he earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1968. While at Fresno State, he won the heavy weight state champion wrestling title. Dr. Warner then proceeded to get his M.S. in Systems Engineering and Civil Engineering, and an MBA from California State University, Fullerton in 1973. Dr. Warner worked for the USGS for 12 years. During that time he moved his family from California to Fort Collins, Colorado, arriving in 1974. In 1981, he earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and became a Professor of Civil Engineering, achieving his lifelong dream. He served as the CSU Groundwater Engineering Program leader, and was a recognized expert in the Groundwater field. He was awarded the prestigious honor, Excellence in Teaching, in 2006. Dr. Warner’s students and his teaching responsibilities were very important to him. In keeping with his devotion to his students, he did not leave this world until one hour after his last final exam was given and he knew he had completed his teaching duties for the semester. Throughout his 27 years at CSU, he was revered as a remarkable professor and was influential in the lives of countless students. Dr. Warner loved his children and grandchildren with all of his heart and was proud of each and every one. His strong values influenced his children, and all six of them earned Engineering degrees from CSU and started families of their own. In addition, they all chose to reside in Fort Collins and continue to stay close, which was very important to him. He passed on to his children his athleticism, intellect, and the importance of family. His grandchildren also inherited his athletic abilities and he enjoyed attending all of their sporting events. He started his own engineering company, Techlink Environmental, in hopes of providing his children with job stability and to keep the family bonds strong. Dr. Warner had a heart of gold and lived large in every aspect of life. Traveling was one of his favorite pastimes and he was proud that he was a world traveler. Among his favorite places to go were Egypt and Cancun, Mexico. In Egypt, he was treated like a king by the locals and he loved to barter at the shops. In Cancun, he enjoyed playing in the pool with his grandchildren, eating grouper sandwiches, drinking banana monkeys, and listening to the ocean waves. Dr. Jim Warner is survived by his wife Kathy (Cookie) Warner and his six children and twelve grandchildren: Christie McDonald, her husband Monte and their children Brode, Max and Gabriella; Dan Warner, his wife Michele and their children Savannah, Chloe and Alexandra; Jeremy Warner, his wife Jene and their son Maverick; Elizabeth Loyd, her husband Brad and their children Bradon and Audrey; Jaclyn Michaelsen, her husband Paul and their children Cassandra, Samantha and James; and Kevin Warner and his wife Bethony. He is also survived by his sister Judy Kenshalo and her husband John, and his brother Cliff Warner and his wife Michelle. He was preceded in death by his mother Bonnie Warner and his brother George Warner, Jr. A memorial service will be held at 11am on December 29th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 600 East Swallow. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the James Warner memorial fund c/o Goes Funeral Care.

Jim Warner

November 19, 1946 - December 18, 2008