Jack L. Warren, Jr.

When Jack Warren had his mind set on something, he didn’t quit until he found the perfect solution. Once he settled on an objective, he was off and running, and for those lucky enough to capture Jack’s fancy, they were subject to his rigorous problem solving skills that often stretched over many hours into enthusiastic all-nighters. His family and his friends from Chrysler Corporation, Lake Fenton High School, the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and the local kids he mentored can attest to Jack’s dogged devotion, honor and loyalty, always peppered with his sly wit and dry sense of humor.

Jack L. Warren, Jr. died Wed. Mar. 23 after a short battle against a rare cancer. Jack was born in Flint, Mich. Aug. 2, 1947 and was raised in Monett, Missouri. He graduated from Lake Fenton High School in 1965 and attended the University of Michigan, where he earned degrees in bioengineering, zoology and management, and joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He served as a medic in the U.S. Army Special Forces from 1969 to 1975. In 1970, Jack joined Chrysler Corporation where he worked first as a powertrain engineer. He spent several years in the product planning department, until he found his zest for Dodge marketing, and was a senior marketing manager when he retired in 2004. Jack loved Chrysler, like he loved the Detroit Tigers and the Michigan Wolverines, and his career there was a lifelong passion that ranged from his early work testing cars in the Nevada desert with his fellow engineers to later developing Ram truck marketing programs in partnership with the Young Farmers of America. After he retired, he continued to consult for the Dodge brand, conducting dealer training and representing the company at trade shows. Both a skilled engineer and writer, he authored a book on engineering with his late father-in-law Frank Kussy, and wrote short fiction and children’s stories in the wee hours.

What Jack cared about most was family. Jack is survived by wife Henriette, children Tamara (Lee Quinones) and Joshua (Amanda) and grandchildren Benicio, Bryce, Tyler and Tahlia. Jack and Henny were married for 47 years. In recent times, he delighted in being an amazing grandfather, planning memorable adventures on trains and baseball spring training outings. Jack was a true outdoorsman who loved farming, woodworking, fishing and driving his full size Ram truck to his northern Michigan “ranch” to visit his horse Ozark. He was an alumni advisor for Kappa Sigma, a Boy Scout leader, and a volunteer for the Democratic party. He served as a mentor for the Jewish Family Service Mentor Programs.

Visitation is Friday, March 25th, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. Twelve Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jewish Family Service Mentor Programs, Frank and Adelaide Kussy Endowment Fund, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“The old man was dreaming about lions.” Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea.