Captain Warren Gene Stevens, CEC, USN (Ret) died peacefully on March 18 in 2011 at Woodland Assisted Care in Merrill, Wisconsin. A memorial service will be held at the First Universalist Church in Wausau, Wisconsin on April 16th at 11:00 a.m.
Captain Stevens was born September 11, 1928 in Madison, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin. He was appointed from Wisconsin and entered the Naval Academy in 1947. Graduating with distinction with the class of 1951, he was first assigned to USS Rochester (CA 124) where he served during the Korean War.
Captain Stevens attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a commission in the Civil Engineer Corps in 1954. From there he reported to the 12th Naval District Public Works Office. This was followed by a two year Seabee tour in MCB 9, and then another 2 year tour on the staff of COMCBPAC in Pearl Harbor.
In 1961 he attended Stanford University and received an MSCE in construction management. Upon completion in 1962, he was sent to the construction of the 600 foot “big dish” radio telescope at Sugar Grove, WV, until sudden termination of the project.
He then reported to the Public Works Center, Newport, as operations officer. This was followed by attendance at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk and then duty at Naval Station, Adak 1965-67as Public Works Officer.
In 1967, Captain Stevens reported to the MSCV staff in Vietnam and next to the CINCUSNAVEUR staff in London. He returned to Vietnam in 1971 as the Deputy Officer in Charge of Construction. His final duty was command of the Construction Battalion Center and Commodore of the 21st Naval Construction Regiment at Davisville, RI, where he retired in 1973.
Captain Stevens spent his retirement years in construction management activities with Battery Park City Authority in New York, power plant construction with Burns and Roe engineers in New Jersey and Maine, and building design and consulting work upon return to his native Wisconsin. He was active in his church where he served as board president. He was also a member of Masonic bodies, service clubs, volunteer organizations, the Naval Institute, and USNA Alumni Association. His honors and decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat V and the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star. He is survived by his wife Rose Marie (Leland), daughters Ann Smiley, Middleton WI, Jean Greenwood, Merrill, WI, and Patricia Rutka, Saco, ME, and three grandchildren, Will and Mary Smiley, and Molly Greenwood.
Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at First Universalist Unitarian Church, 504 Grant Street, Wausau. The Rev. Paul Beckel will officiate.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Seabee Memorial Scholarship Assn. Inc, PO Box 667, Gulfport, MS 39502.
Online Condolences may be given at www.brainardfuneral.com