Warren Kreunen

Warren Kreunen

Mequon - Warren Kreunen died peacefully after a brief stay at the remarkable Lawliss Family Hospice in Mequon, February 18, age 86. He was predeceased in 2004 by Randi Kreunen, his loving wife of over 40 years. He is survived by sons Dirk (Tricia) and Karl (Barbara), and four grandchildren; and further survived by his wife of 15 years, Sally Duback, her three sons and six grandchildren. Warren was mild mannered, brilliant, and enjoyed a wry sense of humor. He was fond of remarking that he was a small town boy who came to the big city. Born in Cassville, Wi. in 1934, later growing up in Bangor, a town of about 850 souls, he attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, graduating with a degree in geology . He later received his law degree from UW-Madison, after which time he clerked for two years (1961-3) for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice William Dieterich. He began his law practice in 1963 at the firm of VonBriesen and Redmond, today known as VonBriesen and Roper. He became managing partner of the firm in 1976, a post which he held for 25 years. In that time, he grew the firm from 7 to 80 lawyers. His own law practice was focused on education law, and he represented many regional school districts. He often commented that the highlight of his career was in leading the trial team representing seven suburban school districts in the Milwaukee desegregation case of the early 1980's. His law partners and many of the lawyers he hired over the years have commented on the high quality of his mentorship and how much they have valued his friendship. In 2018, in a special ceremony with VonBriesen and Roper attorneys, alums and friends present, and with a personal message from Mayor Tom Barrett, the firm's new 8th floor mediation and conference center was officially dedicated as "The Warren L. Kreunen Mediation and Conference Center." In tandem with his legal career, Warren served in several capacities for North Shore Bank. He was elected to its Board of Directors in 1973, continuing until 2003; serving as Board President from 1990-6. In 2003, two years after he retired from his law practice, he moved from North Shore's Board of Directors to become a Vice President and senior loan officer, a position he held for many years. Warren was a dedicated family man who enjoyed traveling with his sons and wife, Randi. He also loved the house they built on the river, sailing, tending gardens, and riding his Harley motorcycle; his most memorable trip being a circle tour of Lake Michigan with Governor Tommy Thompson. With wife, Sally, he built another house on the river, and enjoyed large congregations of family and friends. He was always upbeat, good-humored and endlessly curious about what lay around the corner. Warren was a loyal and enduring friend to many, and always kept in touch with far-flung friends he had had since childhood. As a community member, he was generous with his time. In addition to serving as Board President of Mequon's Weyenberg Library and the Board of the MATC Foundation, Warren was involved with the MMAC (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce), the Public Policy Forum, and was an active and enthusiastic member of the Milwaukee Rotary Club. An outdoor memorial celebration of Warren's life is planned for later in the summer. Memorial contributions in Warren's name can be made to the RCM Scholarship Fund at Rotary Club of Milwaukee. Address: 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, #320, Milwaukee, WI. 53202.