Warren Woods

Warren Woods, 82 of Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Creston, Iowa passed away October 18, 2023 at Kavanaugh House in Des Moines, Iowa.  Funeral Services will be 11:00 A.M., Monday, October 23, 2023 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, 809 W. Montgomery Street, Creston, Iowa. Rev. Evan McVann will officiate.  Burial will be in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery on October 30, 2023. Open visitation will be 1:00 – 5:00 P.M., Sunday, October 22, 2023 at the funeral home.  Family will receive friends 9:30 – 10:30 A.M., Monday, October 23, 2023 prior to the service.  Memorials may be directed to the Warren Woods Memorial Fund, to be established by the family. Memories and on-line condolences my be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.  

He was born on January 25, 1941 to Eugene and Esther Woods in Lincoln, Nebraska. Warren and his wife, Judy, were married for over fifty-four years and are survived by two grown children, Wendy Willets of Ankeny, Iowa, husband Chad, and Jeff Woods of Des Moines, Iowa, husband Nicholas Miller, two grandchildren, Lauren and Olivia Willets, two step-grandchildren, Zack Miller, wife, Allison Miller and Carson Miller, girlfriend, Natasha Widdowson, one step-great-grandson, Jackson Joseph Miller, sister Doris Gierhan, husband Curt of Ligonier, IN, brother-in-law John Clarke, wife Luann of Mitchell, SD, and significant other Norla Arnold, plus several beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Judy Woods,  his brother Dan Woods, his sister-in-law Vicki Clarke, nieces Carla Gierhan and Danielle Hill.

Warren was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln. He graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He lettered in football, basketball and track. He was active in 4-H and was also involved in vocal and instrumental music and journalism. He graduated high school in 1958. He enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan University where he lettered in track and cross-country and was also involved in band, choir, musicals, Theta Chi Fraternity and other activities. His first major was music education.

He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1961 and attended Navy Flight training at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.

Upon re-entering civilian life Warren returned to college and switched major studies from music education to political science. After college, he spent one year working for the USDA Forest Service and then entered the retail field with JC Penney Co. He spent 25 years in retail management in Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa including as manager of Sernett Department Store in Creston, Iowa. He was a forty-eight-year Iowa resident and lived in Creston for forty years before moving to Des Moines to be closer to his family.

Warren worked in marketing and customer service for Gits Manufacturing Co. in Creston. The marketing duties included twelve years of extensive travel to industrial development sties both in the United States and several foreign countries. He developed advertising for Gits including trade magazines and the internet plus he developed catalogs, brochures, and Gits Manufacturing Company’s original web site. Warren retired from Gits in 2003.

Warren was active in his community. He served for 8 years as Mayor of Creston, Iowa. He also served on the Creston Historic Preservation Commission, the Creston Arts Council, Creston Library Board and on the Board of Directors for the Creston Chamber of Commerce. He chaired the Creston Chamber Retail Committee. He was a director of the Creston Community Chorus, Salem Lutheran Church Choir and president of Salem Lutheran Church, where he was a member for 40 years.  Warren then became a member of Luther Memorial Church in Des Moines.

Warren was a city councilman in Creston where he served on the finance committee and was the library liaison. He also was a city councilman and finance committee chairman in Independence, Iowa. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Buchanan County Historical Society and served as president of the Independence Area Chamber of Commerce. He was an Elk, Lion and Rotary club member.

Warren has been recognized by his peers as a knowledgeable leader. He served as President of the Iowa League of Cities having been elected at the 2014 annual conference in Council Bluffs.

Warren wants the general community to know that cigarette smoking directly attributed to his death, from COPD weakening his lungs and causing pulmonary hypertension.