Louis Warner

Louis J. Warner, age 96, of Totowa, and formerly a longtime resident of North Bergen, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, Louis was the youngest of five children to Henry and Florence Warner. He attended Dickinson High School until the age of sixteen, at which time he left to tend to his ailing father.

Louis’ first job was in Jersey City, working for a company that baled corrugated boxes. He later drove taxis transporting customers that arrived from the ferry in Edgewater. However, it was trucking that became Lou’s true passion. He began his career driving dump trucks for the construction of the Palisades Interstate Parkway—old-school truckers would appreciate that he drove the chain-drive variety. Eventually, he transitioned to driving tractor-trailers for Langer Transport, a common carrier. When Langer expanded into hauling fuel tankers, the risk was too great for a man with a wife and three daughters, so Louis moved to a company that ultimately became Port Motor Lines in Secaucus. Throughout his career, he drove all the great trucks—Brockways, Diamond T’s, snub-nosed GMC’s, Macks, and big Fords—always taking meticulous care of his rig. His diligence didn’t go unnoticed, and whenever the company acquired a new truck, it was assigned to Lou. After forty years on the road, he retired at age 65—reluctantly, and only at the urging of his beloved wife.

Speaking of his wife, Louis met her by chance one night at a bowling alley. They encountered one another when the owner double-booked their lane. Seeing the pretty gals across the room, Louis quickly made a deal with the owner to have the girls share the lanes with him and his friends. One of them caught Lou’s eye -  Waldtraudt Strecker though he soon learned everyone called her “Wally”. Determined to not let her slip away, he managed to get a car to give Wally and her girlfriends a ride home. He dropped off Wally’s friends first so he could secure a moment alone with her. That night, in typical confident fashion, Louis declared he would marry her in six months. He kept his promise and they shared their wedding vows before God, family, and friends on Sunday, April 8, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church in Jersey City.

Lou and Wally began their life together living in an apartment near Journal Square before settling in their own home in North Bergen in 1957. There, they raised their three daughters and built a life filled with love and laughter. Sadly, Wally passed away in 2008. Louis remained in their North Bergen home until 2019, when he moved to Totowa to live with his grandson.

A man who cherished time with his family, Louis enjoyed years of weekends at their second home near Lake Wallenpaupack in Pennsylvania. Whether boating, riding mopeds, or snowmobiling for hours with friends, he made the most of their little haven. After retirement, he and Wally split their time between Pennsylvania and North Bergen. Lou adored his eight grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and his newest legacy - his great-great-granddaughter. He never missed a milestone, celebrating sporting events, musical performances, graduations, and weddings. Being the family’s professional driver, you could say that he unofficially ran “Lou’s Driving School” as he taught many of his grandchildren how to navigate the roads behind the wheel.  

Lou was the consummate husband and father, always sharing his interests with his family. He loved model trains and took great joy in building intricately creative layouts. His daughters fondly remember nights when their mom was out bowling—Dad would let them run the slot cars, eat ice cream, and stay up late, only to scramble into bed the moment they saw Mom’s car rounding the corner.

Lou and Wally were an inseparable team, whether traveling—always by car, often to Wally’s bowling tournaments—or making wood crafts together in his basement workshop. Lou would cut out intricate wooden designs, from flowers and butterflies to reindeer and welcome signs, while Wally meticulously painted them. Their talent became so well known that one Christmas, the town of Bogota commissioned them to make candy canes to decorate Main Street.

Louis' faith was the guiding force of his life. He and Wally were longtime members of Bethany Lutheran Church in North Bergen. For many years Lou taught Sunday School to four- and five-year-olds at Bethany and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hamlin, PA. Later he played an active role in the Heart and Hands Mission based out of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Wayne. Known affectionately as "Shoe Man," he took pride in cleaning donated shoes and ensuring they reached those in need. A friend once made T-shirts for Lou and his fellow volunteer that displayed his signature saying, “We may not be the best, but there are none better.” —a fitting reflection of Lou’s humor and spirit.

Generally mild-mannered and easygoing, he was as warm and lovable as they come. Everyone who met Lou was drawn to his kindness. Ever the storyteller, Lou was always the last to leave church, lingering to chat and brighten someone's day. He was always know as “Sweet Lovable Lou”.

Louis was blessed with a life full of love, laughter, and good fortune. His legacy of warmth, humor, and kindness lives on in his family, who are endlessly grateful for him. Though he will be deeply missed, they take comfort in knowing he is with the Lord, reunited with those who have gone before him.

Louis was the beloved husband of Waldtraudt “Wally” Warner, with whom he shared a devoted 57-year marriage until her passing in 2008. He was the cherished father of three daughters: Louise Cropley, who predeceased him in 2023; Barbara Kaplan, whose husband, Patrick, predeceased him in 2024; and Betty Pisani and her companion Vinnie Martino.

A proud and loving grandfather, he leaves behind: Steven Jarvis (Cristine), Matthew Kaplan (Erica), Brian Jarvis (Danielle), Patrick Kaplan (Allison), Melissa Mutia (Alex), Nathaniel Kaplan, Daniel Pisani (Jaemma), and Victoria Pisani-Rodriguez (Ruben).

An adoring great-grandfather, he was loved by: Spencer, Savannah, Jasmine, Jenna, Katelyn, Sara, Kaitlyn, Ruben Jr., Alexander, Jesse, Emma, Jaime, Olivia, Avery, Matthew, Eden, Skylar, Michael, Lexi, and Aubrey.

Most recently, he became a great-great-grandfather to Willow.

He was predeceased by his four siblings—Hazel Mueller, Dorothy Bergner, George Warner, and Florence Silver—and was a dear uncle to many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Louis’ name are asked to consider St. Timothy Lutheran Church with all gifts going to offset the cost of the recently replaced roof.