Warren Henry Kubler

1921 - 2021

Warren Henry Kubler

1921 - 2021

Warren Henry Kubler, 100, a resident of Napa for nearly 70 years, died as he wished, peacefully and with his family present, on Veterans Day, November 11, 2021.

He was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the eldest and last living of eight children, on March 3, 1921. He interrupted his education at the University of Maryland by enlisting in the Navy where he served as a "Seabee" (Construction Battalion) in the South Pacific during World War II.

Warren met his late wife, Patricia, while on leave, and they married in her hometown of Oakdale, California, in 1946 before returning to Maryland for another year of college while Pat began her school teaching career. Yearning for the west coast, they returned to Davis, California where Warren earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education (and later an MS in Education), and they began their family of four children. In his early years of teaching, Warren taught agriculture to fellow veterans returning from WWII while Pat taught home economics – a perfect duo for farm life when they moved to Napa in 1954. In 1957, the family moved to their beloved property "on the hill" and he joined the faculty at Redwood Junior High School the year it opened, teaching "new math." He retired in 1985 - when the grandchild of one of his former students was in his class.

Warren was a voracious reader, enabling him to converse with anyone on any topic, from Burning Man to TikTok and from hog prices to space travel. He was a natural mechanic; he could and did repair any motor, electrical circuit or plumbing problem. He researched county records, ordinances, and survey markers, and successfully defended encroachments on his and neighboring properties. He loved history and spent many happy hours documenting and researching family, neighborhood, and Napa history. He was an avid user of technology, using his computer, iPhone and Echo devices to stay in touch with friends and family, especially during the pandemic.

Warren and Pat were the "Welcome Wagon" of the upper Redwood Road neighborhood. He helped many a neighbor with vehicle mishaps and water issues. They loved to share their abundant garden and orchard produce. Warren belonged to the Dry Creek Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department (and served as Chief) building fire trails along the west ridges of Napa and helped connect landowners to protect and defend their properties. He served in many roles in the Napa Lions Club and the Napa Historical Society. He judged 4H livestock entries including sheep, cattle, and pigs, at the Napa Fair for many years. As a member of the Napa Unified School District, he advocated for teachers (and students!) by serving as President of the Napa Valley Educators Association. He was a longtime member of the Land Trust of Napa County and the first chairman of the Archer Taylor Preserve Stewardship Committee where he lobbied for controlled access and stable caretaking of the land.

He was a passionate hiker and could out-hike most younger companions well into his eighties. He found all kinds of treasures on those hikes, including springs, caves, arrowheads, logging roads, and homesteads. He loved horses, especially riding at night under a full moon. He terrorized and delighted hundreds of riders in his WW II jeep. Over the years, countless youngsters had their first driving lesson from him in that jeep, including each of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Picking prunes, cherries, and walnuts united the Kubler family. Making apple cider each fall became a family tradition. Warren always made sure there were "toys" available too, for all ages. Among them were a high swing that swept over a bank with views of the valley below, go-carts, golf carts, jeeps, trail bikes, ponies, horses, dogs, cats, roosters, pigs, and a very special cow.

Warren marveled at the span of his life, with his humble beginnings on a farm using mule teams during the depression, with no electricity or indoor plumbing. And later to have taught students how to use a slide rule, and then calculators, and then computers was astounding! He adapted easily when he moved to the Meadows Community and enjoyed many years there. It was indeed a life richly lived.

Warren is survived by his four children: Alice Jane Kubler (Joerg Michelfelder) of San Mateo; Margaret Austin (Len Austin) of St. George, Utah; Ann Kubler of Vacaville; and Bruce Kubler (Terri Wilson) of Stevensville, Montana; three grandchildren: Melissa Austin of Rapid City, South Dakota; Sierra Stevenson (Mike Stevenson) of Rapid City, South Dakota; and Eli Austin (Teal Miller) of Sacramento; and four great-grandchildren: Henry, John, and Alice Stevenson, and Gabriel Dorsman.

A memorial gathering of family and friends will be held in the spring.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Dry Creek – Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department, 5900 Dry Creek Road, Napa, Ca. 94558; or the Archer Taylor Preserve Endowment of the Land Trust of Napa County, 1700 Soscol Avenue, Suite 20, Napa, Ca. 94559 or a charity of choice.