Warren Garwood

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 29, in the Dexter Cemetery, Dexter, Iowa. Funeral services will be held later at the Dexter United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 10, beginning at 10:30 a.m., where a luncheon will immediately follow. Memorials in memory of Warren may be directed to the Fire Department, First Responders and/or the United Methodist Church all of Dexter. Warren Lee Garwood, 89, has gone home to be with the Lord the morning of Saturday, November 26th, 2016 at his home in Dexter, IA. He was born on June 11, 1927, in rural Guthrie County and was the third child of Clinton Hobart and Minnie Leona Arrasmith Garwood. He received his elementary education at Morningstar rural 1-room school, Stuart Elementary, and rural Penn #9 south of Dexter. He then went to Dexter High School for two years before he was drafted into the Army for World War II. After his discharge from the service, he enrolled at Drake University for commercial art schooling for 1 year before enrolling in Des Moines Tech to become a certified Aeronautical Mechanic. Warren married Bonnie Lou Miller on June 5, 1949, at 'The Little Brown Church' in Nashua, IA before moving to Wichita, KS for five years where he was employed at Cessna Aircraft and Boeing Experimental Flight Line. They were blessed with three children: Timothy Lee, Tracy Warren, and Teresa (Terie) Lou. In 1956, they returned to Dexter where he lived out the remainder of his life. Warren was a carpenter and homebuilder for the surrounding area, after building 22 new homes in Dexter, Redfield, and the Diamond Head Lake area, he started renovating older homes for sale and rental; a business he and Bonnie ran for many years. He built modern walnut cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms from the woods he stockpiled such as maple, ash, cedar, oak, and walnut. He was skilled at harvesting wood from the timbers of the area and brought the logs back home to his backyard saw-mill and air dried the boards. Warren also worked 14 years in Redfield at Midland Tile preparing display boards for retailers across the country. Warren was known as a master furniture builder who preferred to use natural walnut; many people of the area are proud owners of Garwood built dressers, tables and chairs, china cabinets and end tables. His specialty was building Grandfather Clocks – well over 50 in all. His mechanical and inventing abilities served him well in his lifetime, he never found anything he couldn't repair or make new. Warren was a person of integrity, honesty, and confidence - the kind of man whose word was his bond. He dreamed high, followed his passion for woodworking, and honed his craft, His goal: do everything meticulously and accurately, he always said: 'If it’s worth doing, do it right.' He worked harder and longer than most, passing along that strong work ethic to his relatives. Warren’s son Tracy was inspired by his father and started his company, Garwood Industries in Scottsdale, AZ where Warren worked for 6 years as a mechanical design engineer. Warren specialized in the development of weapons platforms for UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and military ground vehicles. Warren enjoyed Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts with his sons, being a scout leader when they were involved. He was a charter member of the Dexter First Responders and served in the Fire Department in his younger years. He enjoyed deer hunting with family, Sunday night volleyball, fishing, gardening, bird watching, camping, conversing with CB radio truckers at midnight, mushroom hunting, going to his grandson Charlie's sports games, relaxing with his cat Bimbo, and family gatherings. Warren knew the lord and his church home was the Dexter United Methodist Church. We are sure he is enjoying his family reunion in heaven with friends and family members who have passed before him. Warren was preceded in death by parents Clinton and Minnie Garwood, brothers Hobart, Macy Jr, and Jim, sisters-in-law Edna, Norma Jean, and Clara Garwood, grandparents Gene and Mae McLuen Arrasmith, and Macy Sr and Ellie McGuire Garwood. Warren is survived by his wife Bonnie Garwood, sons Timothy (Patty) Garwood and Tracy (Kathy) Garwood, daughter Teresa Lou (Jim) Tishim, granddaughters Linsey (Steven) Kreschollek and Kaylee Garwood, grandson Charlie (Brook) Lenze; great-grandsons Colter Warren and Brody Bruce, and nieces, nephews, in-laws, and other relatives and friends.