Warren F. Taufen, lifelong Whitman County resident, passed away Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at the Whitman Health & Rehabilitation Center in Colfax. He was 91. The Rosary will be recited Sunday, August 26th at 7:00 pm at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Colfax. A Memorial Mass will be Monday, August 27th, at 10:30 also at the church. Abbot Adrian Parcher will be the celebrant. Inurnment with military honors will be in the Colfax Cemetery. Warren was born February 28, 1921 to Otto J. and Caroline Greif Taufen at the family farm southwest of Uniontown. He attended grade school at the rural country school known as the Taufen School. In 1937 he graduated from St. Boniface High School in Uniontown. After graduation he worked for his father on the family farm until 1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He attended various navy schools before being assigned to duty at the Naval Air Station in Tillamook, Oregon for two years. After discharge from the Navy in 1945 he farmed with his father and brother near Uniontown. On October 10, 1949 Warren and Frances Stout were married in Moscow, Idaho. They lived at Uniontown until 1955 when they moved to Colfax, where Warren worked for McSweeney Tractor Co. several months before purchasing a petroleum distributorship, which he operated for twenty eight years before retiring. After retiring Warren and Fran enjoyed traveling and wintering in Arizona for several years. He spent most of his spare time at home golfing or working in his shop, building model steam and gasoline engines, his favorite hobby. Warren was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church in Colfax. He was an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, a Life Member of the National Rifle Assn., a member of the American Legion since 1946, and past member of the Colfax Elks, Colfax Rotary and Colfax Golf Club. He is survived by his wife Fran of 62 years; three sons, Larry of Ajo, AZ; Stephen of Kodiak, AK and Donald of Seattle, WA; and one daughter Debbie Wells and her husband Jim Wells of Colfax. Also surviving are two grandsons and their wives, Curt and Nicole Wells and Jason and Krissi Wells as well as four great-grandchildren; Gavin, Chase, Brooklyn Bo and Jaydin Wells all of Colfax. His two sisters, Sr. Phyllis Taufen SNJM and Janet Weigelt and her husband Loren both of Spokane also survive him. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Harvey and Robert. Memorial gifts can be made to St. Patrick's Church building fund or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is entrusted with the arrangements.