Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Chesterton Tribune publisher Warren H. Canright dies at 88

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Update: A memorial service for Chesterton Tribune publisher Warren H. Canright who died October 22, 2014, is scheduled for Sunday, November 2, at 2 p.m., at Chesterton United Methodist Church.

Leading the service will be the Rev. Scott Tyring.

 

 

Chesterton Tribune publisher Warren H. Canright, 88, died Wednesday, October 22, 2014, at the VNA Hospice in Valparaiso.

He was born April 22, 1926, in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Warren R. and Phyllis (Post) Canright.

On September 11, 1949, in Kokomo, Indiana, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Bourne, who survives.

In addition to his wife he is survived by children David (wife Margaret Willis) of Chesterton, Thomas (Anne) of Evanston, Illinois, and Jane of Chesterton, grandchildren Dexter, Abigail and Elizabeth, sisters Sally (Stan) Gorski, of Sedona, Arizona, and Phyllis Keller, of Muncie, Indiana, brother John (Rosemary), of Chesterton, and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son Robert.

In 1928, when Warren was two, his father bought the Chesterton Tribune and the family moved to Chesterton.

Warren graduated from Chesterton High School in 1944. At CHS he set the school record for the 100 yard dash, a mark that stood for nearly 40 years. He became the second athlete from CHS to qualify for state competition.

For his athletic accomplishments and in recognition of the Tribune’s decades-long support of CHS boys and girls sports he was inducted into the Chesterton High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Immediately after high school he served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a combat infantryman in 290th Regiment, 75th Division. He participated in the crossing of the Rhine and the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, earning a Bronze Star. He finished military service as a Staff Sergeant.

Following his discharge in 1946 he enrolled in Indiana University, Bloomington, graduating in three years with the Class of 1949. He earned a degree in journalism and political science and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa honors.

While a teen Warren began working at the Tribune part-time in the letterpress days of linotypes and hot lead.

Returning to Chesterton after military service and college he began a 65 year career as reporter, printer, editor and publisher.

In 1961 Warren and his father converted the Tribune from a weekly to today’s five-day-a-week daily newspaper. In 1970 he led the conversion of the paper from letterpress to offset printing. In 1978 he installed the first networked computer typesetting system in Northwest Indiana.

As Tribune Editor, he was a life long supporter of public schools including giving editorial support to school building projects, funding initiatives, extra-curricular programs and sports.

He was a proponent of Duneland as a united community, helping to publicize numerous service organizations, youth sports leagues and church groups.

Warren was a life-long member of the Chesterton United Methodist Church. He served with the United Methodist Men and did regular duty as breakfast cook, usher and volunteer.

His community service included terms on the Chesterton Park Board, the Chesterton Board of Zoning Appeals and the Porter Memorial Hospital Board.

During his 32 years on the hospital board the Chesterton and Portage medical centers were constructed and expanded. The hospital created the intensive care unit, neo-natal intensive care unit, and its first advanced cardiac unit.

For his government service he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1995.

In the 1950s he was an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. When he hit that group’s maximum age he helped organize the Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club, which he attended faithfully every week.

He participated in the Boy Scouts of America, first as an Eagle Scout in Troop [9]29 and later as an adult volunteer for Troop [90]8. He also served on the BSA’s Potowattomie Council board.

Warren loved walks in the dunes and was a long-time volunteer at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. He was an avid gardener and often could be seen working in the garden at the Chellberg Farm or volunteering at Maple Sugar time.

White-Love Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

 

Posted 10/23/2014

 
 

 

 

 

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