A Brilliant Life
Kiddingly called The Data Whisperer, Paul Warner was an expert in designing Business Intelligence computer systems for some of the world’s largest corporations such as Microsoft where he was working as a Senior Database Architect/Analyst .Net developer until pulmonary fibrosis swiftly took him on May 29th. This was the culmination of a lifelong quest to continually learn and create ways to help others solve problems. As a youngster, he knew he wanted to become an Engineer. Some memorable experiments were engines that ran on water which rusted before they blew up, a portable radio with antenna lining his bib overalls using the quartz crystal he found in the woods and harnessing lightening during rainstorms resulting in powerful electric arcs in his bedroom. All were precursors to his potential and eventual successful career resulting in eight highly scientific patents for Fortune 500 corporations.
Paul was born in Elmhurst, IL the 6th child of 7 to Virgil and Ruth Warner. When he was 5 they moved to an extremely rural farm in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. This was like going back in time as they had no heat, running water or electricity. The physical labor to do all things manually while attending a one room school house, created an extremely independent individual with an intense curiosity and drive to seek and make things happen. As soon as he graduated from high school with honors, he immediately joined the Navy at the Great Lakes School for Engineers. After four years of many adventures in the Pacific with Top Secret Clearance he was honorably discharged. On the way home his train stopped in a town announcing college registration. He got off and was accepted at Texas Christian University where he really enjoyed playing on the football team while teaching most of his own math classes. A graduate degree in math and science from the University of Texas at Austin resulted in his first engineering job at Dukane. He excelled and held several exciting and challenging positions including President of Northern Communications, VP of Engineering for Muzak/Westinghouse and Director of Advanced Development for Dow Jones & Co.
In 1991, it was time for a change in this workaholic’s life. He and his wife Laurie purchased a business and property at the base of the Snowy Mountains in Laramie, Wyoming allowing Paul to build by hand their house on the prairie where they enjoyed horses and dogs and the freshest air one can find. By 2000, Paul was working for Compuware in Milwaukee, WI becoming one of the cities’ most sought after consultants and where he designed 2 of his patents for real time vision control for the global printing company Quad Graphics. Following the job trail, Salt Lake City, Utah was next where he worked for Rio Tinto and Zion’s Bank. In 2008, he decided to move to Seattle to spend time with his two grandchildren while continuing to work, which you probably have guessed by now was actually fun for him.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Laurie; his two sons from his first marriage Robert and Sam; two grandchildren; his older brothers Roscoe and Sidney, his sister Beverly Ann as well as many nieces and nephews and all of their children scattered across the Midwest. At 6’5” tall and described as a gentle giant, Paul was a shy, unpretentious genius who preferred a life free of all things mundane. His generous nature and constant positive encouragement to all who knew him will be sorely missed.