William Bruce Warr

Omaha -William Bruce Warr, beloved partner, father and grandfather, slipped away peacefully from this world on December 26, 2025, at the age of 92.

Known for his deep intelligence, Bruce was a lover of wildlife, a lifelong learner, a connoisseur of classical music, an unapologetic fan of all kinds of food, a devoted reader of the New York Times, a regular listener to NPR, an avid watcher of PBS, and a provider of genuine words of encouragement whenever needed.

Bruce earned his BA in Philosophy from Brown University and his PhD in Psychology from Boston University and MIT.

He began his career at Boston University School of Medicine. He moved to Omaha in 1978 to pursue his seminal research on the cochlear nerve at Boys Town Hospital for Hearing and Communication Disorders in Children where he remained until he retired.

Bruce’s contributions to his community were also notable. Bruce served on the Board of the Heron Haven Nature Center in Omaha for many years and also served as its president. Under his leadership many grants were awarded that allowed for improvements that made the wildlife sanctuary more accessible to the public. He was also very proud of the wildlife educational opportunities that were offered to the public-school children of Omaha.

Beyond his commitments to his family and community, Bruce had a passion for nature and wildlife. He enjoyed bird watching from the comfort of his home and at Heron Haven. He also traveled to Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico in pursuit of spotting more exotic species. He was extremely well read and also had a love of music.

Bruce is survived by his partner of 34 years, Verla Shaner; his two children Jennifer Warr Parker and Tim (Heather) Warr, and two step children Shay Sickles and Rana Shaner; his eight grandchildren Hannah, Kevin, Noah, Alex, Joshua, Jessica, Angela, and Rayla; and by his sister Lola Jane McAlpine.

Instead of flowers, please consider a donation in Bruce’s honor to Heron Haven Nature Center.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - 108th Street Chapel 2727 N 108th St - Omaha, NE - 402-496-9000 www.RoederMortuary.com