Warren Wilbur Willenburg was born on January 11, 1922 in Bemidji, Minnesota, son of Joseph and Minnie Willenburg. Warren was named after then President of the United States, Warren G. Harding. In 1926, Warren Willenburg moved with his family to Lawrence, Kansas. He grew up near the University of Kansas (KU) and attended school in Lawrence Kansas. Due to the Depression of the early thirties, he enlisted in the United States Navy. During his naval service, he served several tours of duty in the South Pacific during World War II. He was one of the first naval crews assigned to the Honolulu naval base after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1942, he served abroad the U.S. Yorktown and was an active participant in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. He survived the sinking of the US Yorktown and survived five hours in the Pacific waters until rescue by other U.S. naval ships in the area. He refers to June 4, 1942 as the day, he went for a swim.

After an honorable medical discharge in 1943, Warren Willenburg attended school in Oklahoma and obtained his AP (Airplane) Mechanic license. After obtaining his AP license, he moved to Minneapolis, and began his long time career with Braniff International Airways. On April 5, 1953, Warren was united in marriage to Violet L. Carlson at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Plummer, Minnesota. In 1954, Warren accepted a position with Braniff Airways in Kansas City, Missouri and in 1972, he accepted another position as an AP Shop Mechanic with Braniff Airways at Love Field, Dallas, Texas. He remained with Braniff Airways until his retirement in May, 1982. Warren Willenburg was one of the founding members of Faith Lutheran Church, Flower Mound, Texas. His hobbies included reading, history, eating, traveling, and spending summers with the Carlson family in northern Minnesota.

He is survived by his daughter and his son, his sister, and his sister-in law, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Violet L. Willenburg, his sister Josephine Willenburg, his brother, Marvin Willenburg, his brother, Roland Willenburg and an infant brother Edward Willenburg. Warren Wilbur Willenburg of Highland Village, Texas died peacefully on December 22nd at his home at the age of 91 years.