Warren Eugene Westbrook, Jr., age 79 of Leonard, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. Per his wishes, he is being cremated and his ashes will be spread in Idaho on his former hunting grounds at a later date.

Warren was born Feb. 6, 1941, in Reno, Nev., to Warren E. Westbrook and Betty McCoy (yes, of the “Hatfields and McCoys”). He was tough, raised in the deserts of Nevada where he, his brother and his sister caught, broke, trained and sold wild horses. Warren could rope, ride and shoot with the best of them, as could his dad, and he also enjoyed rodeoing.

Warren graduated from Reno High School in 1959 and immediately enlisted in the United States Marine Corp where he learned new technology for radar. Through his best friend in the Marines, Warren was introduced to Sheryl Antwiler, and the two married on his 24th birthday - Feb. 6, 1965 - in Ontario, Calif. His nephew Tyler described Sheryl as “the yang to his ying.”

Warren left the Marines in 1965 and went to work for IBM as an engineer, which carried his family through several relocations. In 1992, he retired from IBM and he and Sheryl moved to Idaho to be close to family. There, he went to work for the Department of Agriculture as an onion and potato inspector, retiring for a second time after ten years. In 2017, he and Sheryl made their final move to Leonard to be close to their daughter and family.

Warren was a proud veteran, traveling every year to Leonard - even when he lived in Idaho - to attend the Veterans Day Program at his granddaughters’ school. He flew an American flag, and a Marines flag, in his perfectly manicured yard.

He was an avid hunter, rodeo competitor (in his younger years) and gun dealer/collector. He was a man of few words, until he spoke, then you better settle in. He was conservative, but in the traditional way - his way. For example, he did not care for Obama, but respected him as president, and respected the office of the presidency. He was stern, with high standards that he required of himself as well. He had manners, and wisdom, and pure intelligence. He was a family man who never wavered.

His mother was Jewish by birth. His grandmother was the daughter of the Minister of finance of Germany, expelled for being a jew. She went on to marry a McCoy and went west to get away from the deadly feud with the Hatfields. He was raised Christian, but knew, and told his family, about their history. His mother married a Westbrook in Montana, whose family had gone west after losing the Civil War and the family empire of trafficking in enslaved Africans. The Westbrook family had also native Americans as wives, as the stories go. So, he was Jewish German and a pinch of Native American, had a family name from slavers, and was a badass desert cowboy. But… no doubt he would just call himself an American. To be sure, and it should be said, there was not a racist bone in his body. He judged a man by his merits. He was an honorable man, and he’s off to that Grand Rodeo in the sky. His mind was going, and for such a smart man, that must have been frustrating. His death is not a tragedy, it was his time - perhaps a blessing.

Warren is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sheryl Westbrook of Leonard; siblings, JoAnn Quilici of Nevada, and Jim Westbrook and wife, Julie, of Nevada; children, Mike Westbrook of wife, Felecia, of Idaho, Bill Westbrook and wife, Laurie, of California, Scott Westbrook and wife, Ashlie, of Colorado, and Karen Medders and husband, Daniel, of Leonard; grandchildren, Jared Westbrook, Stephanie Westbrook, Haleigh Medders of Leonard, Cole Westbrook, Rachel Westbrook of Leonard, Shy Medders of Leonard, Wyatt Westbrook, Teya Mezac, Shelby Parry and Joey Parry; niece, Tina Savini; and nephews, David Quilici and Tyler Westbrook. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ed Westbrook.