Robin Warner

Robin Warner died on May 6th, after living with Lewy body dementia for several years. He was 81.

Born Robert Patterson Warner, Robin studied at Earlham College, where he met his first wife Malinda, and later attended the University of Michigan.  

He became a Quaker and was active in the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting.

In 1968, he settled his young family at Friends Lake Community in Chelsea. 

He worked as a machinist until an interest in computers led him to open State St. Computer in Ann Arbor. A few years later he sold the business and then worked in IT until he retired. 

In retirement he pursued his passion for nature and the environment and began planting hundreds of trees each year as he developed Dexter Tree Farm. He primarily planted native trees, with a focus on trying to restore black cherries, walnuts, chestnuts, and other species that have become rare in Michigan. His greatest passion and success was with oaks, and Robin spent hours collecting and planting acorns from strong neighborhood trees. 

Throughout his working career and beyond Robin danced — contra, Scottish and Vintage. He was co-director of the Cobblestone Farm Country Dancers and enjoyed calling community contra dances. He met his second wife, Helen, at a local Scottish Country dance class and they settled in Dexter Township. He introduced her to Vintage dancing, and together they enjoyed many years traveling to workshops, balls and dance weeks, both in the U.S. and abroad. They were also members of a vintage dance group which performed at venues in Michigan and Canada for twenty years. 

Robin was a board member of the Friends School in Detroit, was a member of the Executive Board of the Michigan State Grange and was recognized in 2004 as “Conservationist of the Year” by the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau. 

Robin is survived by his wife Helen, sons Kevin (wife Stephanie) and Brian, daughter Janine (husband David), several grandchildren, and Tipper the cat.

Cremation has taken place. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.