Roll Call Tribute

Downing & Lahey Mortuary East obituary
6555 E. Central
Wichita, Ks 67206
316.682.4553

Norman Warminski
September 21, 2017

Norman Warminski, 75, well known as The Plant Doctor, succumbed to cancer September 21, 2017. Norman was born in White Deer, Texas, a small Polish community in the Texas Panhandle. He worked on the family farm through high school then left for Oklahoma State University to earn his BS Degree and later a MS degree in landscape horticulture from Texas A&M. In 1964, he was selected as an International Family Youth Exchange delegate and spent 6 months in the Philippines. From 1966 to 1982 he was married to Carol Stieferman having two children, Kevin and Christy. He began his extension agent career in Texas, then Olathe Kansas, then Newton, Kansas, and finally was the Sedgwick County horticultural extension agent for 29 years. Norman was passionate about plants and thought of himself as an educator, teaching people about plants and how to care for them. He was a key instigator in establishing Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, began Wichita’s Master Gardener program and the Wichita Garden Show. Norman was a certified International Flower Show judge and won hundreds of blue ribbons and best of show awards for his own creations. For 32 years he hosted a morning radio call-in show, for four years hosted the Sunflower Gardener productions on public television, plus was seen weekly on CBS channel 12 where is was given the name, Plant Doctor. His two other passions were world travel and line dancing. Preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Proxie Warminski; son, Kevin, and sister, Vivian Warminski Simmons. Survived by partner, Jerry Martin; daughter, Christy Bieker; sister, Joanna Acker (Bernard); brothers, Stephen (Bonnye) and Randy (Beverly); grandchildren, Emerson and Blaze, and many nieces and nephews. Rosary, 6 p.m., Sunday September 24; Funeral Mass, 11 a.m. Monday, September 25, both at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Wichita. On Tuesday, September 26, a Visitation will be held at 3 p.m.; Prayer Service at 4 p.m., both at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, followed by the Graveside Service in Sacred Heart Cemetery all in White Deer, TX. Arrangements by Downing & Lahey Mortuary West in Wichita.