Warren B. Sherwin
Warren Sherwin
Warren B. Sherwin, 89, died at Park Lane Nursing Home, Scott City, on Nov. 4, 2023.
He was born on Oct. 9, 1934, on the farm, southwest of Beeler, the youngest son of Mark and Alice (Prose) Sherwin. He was a lifelong farmer and rancher.
His older siblings were, Douglas, Dennis and Reva, who all preceded him in death. His parents, Mark and Alice Sherwin, lived west of Buda School, a one-room schoolhouse, where he attended until going to Beeler High School.
He met Alberta Anderson of Utica at a dance in Dighton. They started corresponding after Warren was enlisted in the United States Army in 1954.
He completed his basic training at Fort Chaffee, Ark., and was trained as a helicopter mechanic at Fort Sill, Okla. His home base was Fort Hood, Tex., where he loved working on helicopters.
One of his most memorable experiences while in the military was being part of 800 soldiers participating in an army exercise to witness an atomic explosion at Camp Desert Rock, Nev., in 1955. During that exercise, he received $55/month extra in hazardous duty pay. He also flew support for tanks, transported officers and helped injured soldiers get medical care.
After he was discharged in 1956 with a rank of E-3, he went to Wichita to work for Boeing, before moving back to the farm.
On Dec. 23, 1957, Warren married Alberta Anderson at the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Utica. They had five children: Rhonda, Brenda, Shelly, Karen and Scott.
Warren was dedicated to hard work, raising crops, beef cattle and putting in long hours in all kinds of weather to provide for his wife and children. The farm had a large orchard and garden. He and Alberta enjoyed going to “cousin” card parties and square dances.
Alberta died on June 3, 1996, after 38 years of marriage.
Later Warren met Dorothy Schwartzkopf Weeks of Brownell. They married on Jan. 2, 1998. They lived and worked on the farm and were active in the Sunflower Polka Club. Dorothy died on Oct. 27, 2000.
Warren met and later married Norma Dvorak Binns of Scott City on Sept. 22, 2001, his wife for the last 22 years. They lived on the farm for a few years and then moved to Scott City. They enjoyed traveling with their RV to a camp near Salinas, Colo., and to Fredricksburg, Tex., where they had many retired friends.
The Sherwin children have many fond memories of their dad, including fishing on Sunday afternoons, working together in the fields and on the farm. Warren had a calm, steady, compassionate character. He was very mechanical and always had something to fix.
Having four daughters and a son had its challenges, but he patiently taught them to drive farm machinery.
Besides his family, one of Warren’s legacies was the Indian Hill land northwest of Beeler in 1988. This property was reported to have been a lookout for Native Americans to see any enemy coming into the area.
Five years later, in 2003, he decided to have a life-sized figure of an Indian sitting on a horse at the top of Indian Hill. He asked local metalsmith Brad Dinges to sculpt the figure, who recruited his daughter to be the model. This work soon became a local attraction and is currently listed under the Wonders of Ness County. Warren really enjoyed seeing newspaper articles and comments from drivers who saw the artwork.
Warren was a member of Buda Sunday School and assisted when needed, was baptized at the Beeler UMC where he became a member and later attended the Scott City UMC. He also served for many years on the board of directors for the Beeler Cooperative.
In 2019, he was a recipient of a Kansas Honor Flight because of his service during the Korean War. He enjoyed a quick trip to Washington D.C., visiting historic sites.
Other survivors include his children, Rhonda Ashworth and husband, Steve, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Brenda Sherwin, Jackson Hole, Wyo., Shelly Sherwin, Douglas, Ariz., Karen Sherwin, Garden City, and Scott Sherwin who lives and manages the family farm near Beeler; three grandsons, John Ashworth, Richard Wheeler and wife, Alena, and Nathan Wheeler; two granddaughters, Sarah Heatley and husband, James, and Marie Ashworth; his sister-in-law, Joyce Sherwin, Wichita; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
He recently welcomed his first great-grandchild, Luna Wheeler.
Warren was also preceded in death by his parents and his three siblings.
The funeral service will be Friday, Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m., at the Ness City Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Buda Cemetery, Beeler.
The family asks that donations be made to the Beeler Volunteer Fire Department or the Buda Cemetery.
Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral. com.