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Of Chelsea, Michigan, age 88, died Friday, July 31, 2020, at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. He was born September 13, 1931, in Three Rivers, Michigan, the son of John & Lucile (Collyer) Mayer.

Warren graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1949, then attended Western Michigan University for his undergraduate degree. He received his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. Warren was in the U.S. Army where he served during the hydrogen tests at Eniwetok Atoll. He was a band director and guard at the Ft. Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks. Warren was band and choir director in Kingsley/Pierson School District in Iowa for 13 years, then spent 25 years as a band director in the Chelsea School District. He was very involved with the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association, played clarinet in the Dexter Community Band, and Ann Arbor Civic Summer Band. Warren was a member and choir director of Zion Lutheran Church, Assistant Scoutmaster at Troop 425, and a member of Chelsea Kiwanis for many years. He also volunteered at Chelsea Retirement Community.

On Dec. 23, 1966, he married Linda L. Weiandt in Three Rivers, and she preceded him in death on Sept. 19, 1985. On Oct. 4, 1997, he married Linda (Weidemier) Wickre, and she survives. Other survivors include two sons, David (Kim) Mayer of Ypsilanti, Timothy (Amy) Mayer of Galion, OH; a step-son, Jay Wickre of Hill City, SD; his twin sisters, Donna (Ed) Elder and Diane Butler; 13 grandchildren, Julia, Gloria, Melody, Grant, Nathan, Elliot, Joe, Katie, Michael, Addie, Elli, Grace, and Emma; 6 step-grandchildren, Leah Wytosick, Kaylin Wickre, Jayson Wickre, Andrew Wickre, Yolanda Elrod, Carrie Angulo; 6 step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Roger.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 7, 11:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church, 3050 S Fletcher Rd, Chelsea, MI 48118, with Rev. Kurt Hutchens officiating. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chelsea. The family will receive friends at Cole Funeral Chapel on Thursday, August 6. Please call 734-475-1551 to schedule a time to greet the family. There will also be visitation and viewing on Friday from 10-11 am at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, to establish a music scholarship fund, or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Click here to view Warren's picture slideshow

Click here to view Warren's funeral 

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Comments  

#28 Steven Brown 2020-08-27 22:19
What a tremendous influence on so many young people. I was in the KP band and had him for a director only a short time, I became a band director because of Mr Weidner (KP) and Mr Mayer! (KP) Wonderful slide show. Wonderful man!
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#27 Nancy Knott 2020-08-14 23:39
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Mayers padding. I enjed him as my band director, and was a very nice man.
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#26 Mark Brennan 2020-08-12 20:50
Here was a man with the patience of Job and the toughness of a soldier. In the 1970's he marched with the Mighty Chelsea Bulldog Junior High School band up and down Madison Street in Chelsea teaching us music and to know our left foot from our right. I don't know how he put up with the noises that I made with that trombone, but he never stopped encouraging me to try to do better.
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#25 Dean Johnson 2020-08-12 13:08
I enjoyed seeing the pictures very much. It's too bad that we wait until a person has passed away before we put together a slide show like this that helps us to really know the person.
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#24 Judy Gollhofer 2020-08-10 22:26
What a wonderful video of a life well lived! Warren was the band director in Kingsley for many years and I am grateful to have been in his band. A wonderful man and an inspiration to so many. Judy Gollhofer
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#23 Margaret Irwin Becke 2020-08-10 19:43
I feel privileged to have had Mr Mayer as our high school band director in Kingsley. What a leader he was! Always with a smile and a plan. He certainly taught me so much more than a love of music. Music in heaven will be sweeter now with his sweet clarinet!
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#22 Nancy Van Blaricum 2020-08-06 12:06
Linda, So sorry to hear of your loss. I so enjoyed having him in the audience smiling at me as I had the privilege of singing for the Sunday night Hymn sings. I'm so glad that I got to know him, You were so patient and caring and he was so lucky to have had you caring for him.
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#21 Alice Hannan 2020-08-04 19:16
I'm thinking of you, Linda. We had so much fun; Warren was very encouraging and inspirational to me.
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#20 Ann Hall 2020-08-04 18:50
Tim and family, so sorry for your loss. I have so many good memories of your dad as our band director. He must of had a lot of patience to work with all of us middle schoolers when we were just beginning our musical journeys. I still play today thanks to the love of music he helped Develop. Ann Hall (Weiner)
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#19 David O. Lindsay 2020-08-04 18:33
Warren and I first met when he was at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, in the 1950s. Warren, Linda Weidemier and I were in the same EUB church youth group. I followed his career off and on for many years and reconnected when he and Linda Weidemier/Wickr e were married. We will remember Warren’s sunny disposition and great sense of humor. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. Dave and Joan Lindsay
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