Warren Frederick Beauman

Born on January 6, 1927 in Monroe, Michigan to Arthur and Elma Beauman, Warren attended Waterloo Elementary school and Monroe High School, was a Boy Scout and member of the First Baptist Church. Although he greatly enjoyed learning the flute and playing in the high school band, Warren did not take well to school. So at the age of 16, he left home to join the Navy.

He entered boot camp in Farragut, ID, and was transferred to Millington, TN, to attend the Navy’s Aviation Radio School. There he discovered not only a thirst for knowledge, which was to continue throughout his life, but an aptitude for the sciences that he did not know he possessed. There he performed on par with his peers, many of whom held college degrees, and excelled, graduating second in his class. As a result, he was offered a teaching position, but declined, eager to see more active service. He was shipped off to gunnery school in Purcell, OK, and his squadron was later based in Jacksonville, FL, where he flew PBYs off of St. John’s River. His squadron transferred to Kearney Field, San Diego, and he remained in the service until June 1, 1946, when he was honorably discharged.

As important as the Navy was to Warren, so too was his interest in a certain young lady whom he had known in high school. Warren met Joyce Howald through the school band, marching side by side with her in the flute section. Hoping to build on this, he returned to Monroe every chance that he could get to see her.

Warren’s time in the Navy proved pivotal in many ways. Most importantly, it opened up new perspectives, instilled self-confidence, and showed him that a college education was attainable. So, after he was discharged, he applied to the University of Michigan and was accepted on probation because he lacked a high school diploma. Eager to excel, this was not good enough, so he returned to Monroe High School and completed the two remaining years of courses that he needed in one year, graduating with straight A’s. Then, in the fall of 1947, he entered the University of Michigan and majored in music.

Equally eager to secure the love of his life, Warren married Joyce on June 22, 1948, and they began their life together in Naperville, IL. Warren attended North Central College in Naperville and studied with René Rateau, principal flutist of the Chicago Symphony. In 1949, Warren auditioned for and was accepted to the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Joseph Mariano. From Eastman, he received his B.M. and M.M. in music education.

After graduating, Warren began his teaching career in Attica, NY. He also played principal flute in the Batavia Symphony and taught at the Tally-Ho Music Camp, in western New York, during the summer. In 1954, he was offered the position of music coordinator for the school district of Mt. Clemens, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. His leadership of the music program took many forms: he conducted the symphonic band and orchestra at the high school level, directed the marching band during football season, supervised the junior high and elementary music programs, taught advanced music theory, recruited young students, and dedicated his department’s efforts toward opening the eyes (and ears) of students to the wonder of music and a commitment to excellence.

Warren was also active in the community. He served as choir director for the Methodist Church, helped organize the Mt. Clemens Community Symphony, and lent his own personal skills, both as principal flutist and soloist, to community-area orchestras.

Eager to extend the musical experience of his students, Warren and Joyce established the “Woods and Wind Camp” in Dryden, MI. Originally conceived as a music camp for high school band programs, its reputation spread quickly and was embraced by other educational endeavors. More than a bit of hard work went into creating the camp, marked by Warren’s devotion to empowering young people from all walks of life to realize their potential.

In all that he did, Warren was a natural-born teacher. He had the knack of getting you to approach any problem analytically. He taught by example, offering support when self-confidence was slow to come, inspiring you to reach further even after you thought you had arrived at your goal. Whether it was in helping others find beauty in music or grasp skills far beyond a musical clef, Warren’s steadfast nature was true.

In 2009, Warren and Joyce moved into the Penney Farms Retirement Community, where he continued to enjoy his music, sharing with others in numerous ways. He was an active member of the choir and men’s chorus, played in the band, volunteered at the fitness center, and continued to create furniture at the wood shop.

Warren is preceded in death by his siblings; his precious daughter Susan; and most recently his wife Joyce. He is survived by their three children—Eric Beauman and daughter-in-law Linda (Richmond, MI), Julia Lupp and son-in-law Bruce (Schmitten, Germany), and Mark Beauman and daughter-in-law Andrea (Haslett, MI); as well as his loving grandchildren Betsy Trask, Lisa McNaughton, Grant Beauman, Christopher Lupp, Lauren Edgar, Daniel Lupp, Emily Moore, Andrew Beauman, and Nicholas Beauman; and great-grandchildren.

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