Warren Exo

1931 - 2026

Warren Dale Exo, age 94, died peacefully Saturday, March 21, 2026. He is survived by his wife Susan (Fritch) Exo, his children Scott (Margy Robinson), John (Karin) and Shari and five grandchildren: Galen, Malia, Garrett, Evan and Sebastian as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Neil and Jessie (Teerman) and his brothers, Neal and Bob.

Born in Holland, Michigan, August 11, 1931, to a shoemaker and homemaker, Warren lived an adventurous childhood. The loss of his father when Warren was only 16, was a defining moment in his life. Shortly thereafter while working at the Ottawa Beach Club teaching tennis and waiting tables, he was befriended by a patron who helped him enroll at Hope College in Holland. After earning his bachelor of arts, Warren would go on to earn a master's degree from the University of Michigan.

Following graduate school, Warren was drafted into the US Army, where he served in post-war German reconstruction. Upon his honorable discharge, he and an Army friend toured Europe by scooter-a journey that ignited a lifelong passion for both domestic and international travel.

Education changed the trajectory of the Exo family, and Warren dedicated his professional life to public service and fiscal stewardship. He served as a budget specialist for several Wisconsin Governors-beginning with Gaylord Nelson-the State of Alaska, and the University of Wisconsin System. Later in his career, he served as a USAID-supported consultant to the governments of Thailand and Nepal.

Warren was a man of diverse and deeply held passions. An accomplished tennis player since his youth, Warren sought out courts wherever his travels took him. Whether in Blantyre, Bangkok, Kathmandu or Rabat, he relished playing against local pros and an occasional national champion, always finding a balance between fierce competition and genuine fun.

His love for music began in college, singing with the Hope and Michigan choirs. He continued this tradition in the Army choir in Frankfurt and later in the Exo household. It was through music that he met Kaye Schwarze Exo, the mother of his children, while singing in a choir in Madison.

A true conservationist in the spirit of Wisconsin's great naturalists, Warren was happiest hunting and fishing. He shared these pursuits with his children and his wife, Susan, taking memorable annual trips to Canada and North Dakota in pursuit of fin, feather, and companionship.

While working for the University of Wisconsin System, Warren met Susan Fritch. They married on September 17, 1983, beginning decades of devoted companionship. Susan was his partner in every sense-traveling the world, fishing, hunting, and training retrievers by his side. In his later years, she served as his dedicated and faithful caregiver.

The Exo family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the staff at Brookdale Memory Care in Middleton and Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg for the compassionate care Warren received during his final years.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made at https://obits.cremationsocietyofmadison.com/warren-exo