Father. Husband. Teacher. Adventurer. Warren Tourangeau was all these and more. Warren died unexpectedly December 7, 2020 at his home with his wife by his side.
Warren was born on September 7, 1950 (or the 8th, depending on Daylight Savings Time). The youngest of three children, he is fondly referred to as “General Nuisance” by his family. He excelled in athletics and played many roles in the neighborhood’s Menard Theatrical Society, winning “Best Actor” for his portrayal of The Witch in Snow White and the Dwarf (limited acting pool). Warren’s early theatre career served him well, on April 21, 1967: while rehearsing line for a high school play, he spotted the deadly Oak Lawn Tornado out his bedroom window. He rushed downstairs, hustled his family into the basement, and their lives were spared, unlike 55 others who were killed. It was just one of many “famous family stories,” and in this one Warren played the hero.
Theatre and Speech became Warren’s way of life as he majored in Speech Communication at Illinois State University, graduating in 1972. He taught at several high schools in Illinois, most notably Farmington High School. There, he coached state champions, directed “Camelot” for the inaugural Illinois HS Theatre Festival, and co-directed an All-State Musical. During his Farmington career, he met his future wife, Patricia (Pat). They connected when she also attended ISU, majoring in Theatre; they fell in love and married in 1980, spending the next few years kicking around NYC, Maine, and Illinois for graduate school.
In 1985, the couple moved to Kooskia, Idaho. Warren worked at Kamiah High School with Pat, and at Grangeville High School, where he taught English and Speech, coached Speech and Debate, and directed plays. The two enjoyed their collaboration, working as a teaching-coaching-directing team.
Warren was an avid reader and journaled about his life and adventures for over 50 years. Warren’s greatest enjoyment in life was the outdoors: camping, hiking, rafting, and exploring wildlands in the U.S. and Canada. He found his ideal travel companion in Pat, for adventuring through National Parks (favorite: Yellowstone!) and baseball stadiums (Go Cubs!), to remote forest lands in Idaho and Montana, and eventually in retirement on their snowbird adventures throughout the Southwest. They spent 40 years as partners in life and travel. He was most at home on the Lochsa and Selway Rivers in Idaho.
In 1995 their son Marc was born. Warren considered Marc the single best thing he ever produced in his lifetime. Marc accompanied them on all their adventures, hiking and biking and camping across the U.S. He remains their pride and joy.
In 2005, the family moved to Boise, Idaho. Warren taught Speech and Debate at Centennial High School in Meridian; he retired in 2013. In all, Warren worked for 40 years in public education, mostly getting students on their feet to speak in front of others with confidence. He impacted countless student lives.
Warren is survived by his wife Patricia in Boise; son Marc (Rachel DeArman) in Helena, MT; his brother Frank (Dan Pal) in Chicago, IL; sister Joyce (James) Trent in San Diego, as well as beloved nieces Sara Trent and Heidi (Taylor) Burnett and their children; and his cousin Al Tourangeau in Ft. Myers, FL.
His Stobaugh family survivors include father-in-law Bud Stobaugh (Micki Rodrick) of Farmington; brothers-in-law Michael (Sherry) Stobaugh of Bartonville and Timothy (Janice) Stobaugh of Elmwood; nieces and nephews David (Katie) Stobaugh of Peoria, Erica (Tom) Davis of Urbana, Sarah (Michael) Perardi and their children of Farmington, Rachel (Jarod) Miller and their children of Farmington, and Ryan (Kaitlyn) Stobaugh and their children of Farmington.
There will be no formal services. In summer 2021 there will be a hellacious party for friends and family, good food and great stories, laughter and tears, along the Lochsa River in North Central Idaho, one of his favorite places. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Yellowstone Forever Foundation.
