Even in poor health he was willing to serve

Warren Williams, a retired Brainerd banker known for his generosity and many years of community service, died Monday at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester from a heart-related condition.

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He was 67.

Warren Williams

Williams, the 1997 Brainerd Citizen of the Year, was remembered Monday as a generous man who even in poor health was willing to serve the community.

Tom Prusak, president and chief executive officer of Brainerd Lakes Health, said he recently approached Williams and asked if he'd serve as honorary chair of St. Joseph's Foundation's Heart of the Community Campaign to support the development of the Brainerd Lakes Heart and Vascular Center at St. Joseph's Medical Center. Williams agreed. The campaign, which started in August and has already raised $3.4 million toward the $4 million goal, ends in December. Prusak said Williams personally connected with two individuals in the community who provided major financial support for the project.

"He was experiencing really serious medical challenges and wasn't sure he could complete that assignment but he accepted it because it meant that much to him," said Prusak. "You talk about a man who was willing to make sacrifices. He knows his end is near and he's still willing to help in any way he can."

Williams succeeded the late Marv Campbell as president of Citizens State Bank in 1982, retiring after 22 years from Bremer Bank in 2004. Before coming to Brainerd, Williams served as the senior vice president of commercial loans at the Bremer Bank in St. Cloud. He also worked for First Bank Systems in Minneapolis for 11 years in commercial loan development. He was named NorthWestern Financial Review's Banker of the Year in 2002.

Williams served from 1992-1998 and 2002-2006 on the St. Joseph's Medical Center board of directors. He also served on the St. Joseph's Foundation board from 1999-2005.

"I consider him a friend and this is a great loss to the community," said Prusak. "He's always been there for the community, it was community first. He was a very gentle man, he was kind, he was generous. He was always willing to give of himself. He was a great adviser to me personally on how we approach strategic decisions."

He also served since about 1982 on the Central Lakes College Foundation board and was on boards for the Salvation Army, Brainerd Family YMCA, Central Minnesota Initiative Foundation and a fundraising program for the College of St. Scholastica. He was a Brainerd Rotary member.

"He's been a tremendous support to our foundation and was just a wonderful man," said Diane Scearcy, CLC Foundation executive director. "He will be greatly missed."

Mike Riley, president and chief executive officer of the Bremer banking facilities in Brainerd, Baxter and Aitkin, replaced Williams in 2004. He said Williams was a father figure to him and was the man who convinced him to move to Brainerd in 2000.

"He was the utmost professional," Riley said. "It was always about taking the high road. It was all about community, family, customers and staff.

"He had a wonderful sense of humor. He had the ability to make people feel comfortable."

Riley said it was hard to believe that someone with probably the biggest heart would have such medical problems with his own heart. Williams was honorary chair of the drive for a new heart center at St. Joseph's Medical Center and Riley said the one phone call Williams was able to make yielded a $50,000 contribution in Williams' name.

"Brainerd lost a great citizen today," Riley said.

Kathy Gaalswyk, president of the Initiative Foundation of Little Falls, had known Williams since 1991. She described him as a man of integrity, who was committed to his family, his job and his community.

Williams served on the Initiative Foundation's board from 1998 to 2007. He continued to serve on the foundation's finance committee. Gaalswyk said Williams helped the organization realize the importance of helping emerging businesses grow and expand so they could create quality jobs. He had served as chair of the foundation's board and led an endowment campaign.

"He really encouraged the spirit of philanthropy - giving back to the community with time and talent," she said. "I think that's really at the core of what made Warren tick. He was all about giving back to make the community a better place.

"He, for me, was a mentor," she said. "He had a gentle, wise style and was a person I would call for advice and he gave good counsel and lots of encouragement."

Williams enjoyed antique cars and in 1993 he purchased a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk. He took it to a national Studebaker show in 1997 and won his class.

Williams lived in Pequot Lakes with his wife, Sharla. They have three adult children.

Funeral arrangements are with Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Brainerd.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858. MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.