Warner "Tony" Baxter

     Warner (Tony) peacefully joined his beloved wife, Elaine, in heaven on August 6, 2025 while the hospice chaplain sang, “As the Deer Panteth for the Water” at Bethel Oaks Memory Care in Viroqua.  

      Tony was born in Elgin, Illinois on July 2, 1941 to Vernice and Raymond Baxter.  The parents eventually divorced and Vernice made her way back to her family farm in Oregon, Wisconsin where Warner learned a love of farming and hard work.  Everyone asks where his nickname Tony originated.  During that time, he attended a one room school house.  The children all teased him that he had a “Toni (name from a hair permanent) due to his curly hair.  The name stuck.  

      Tony met Elaine at a high school dance where he declared to a friend that he was going to marry that girl.  And marry her he did!  They were married on March 19, 1960.  

       Life was not perfect for the couple and after Alan and Debbie were born, they separated.  Tony was drafted to the Army to be deployed to Vietnam.  While in basic training the couple decided to reunite and Elaine pulled strings to have him discharged from the army as only she could do.  

       The family soon added another child, Greg, and Tony continued to wonder about the meaning of life as he bartended at a local bar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Elaine began attending a local church with the children and Tony always declined her offer to go along.  One Sunday morning, however, after a late night of working, he was up and dressed and declared that he was going to church.  There he heard that Jesus loved him and had died on the cross to save him (a sinner).  Tony trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior that day.  His conversion was real and deep and he loved to tell others of how Jesus had saved him. 

     The family then moved to Downers Grove, Illinois where they attended The First Baptist Church.  There Tony drove the bus for youth events and taught Sunday School.  Becki and Paul were born soon after the family moved to Illinois.  Tony moved from job to job and finally found that he enjoyed sales.  In 1985 the family moved to a hobby farm near Genoa, Wisconsin and Tony worked as a salesman for Radford Windows and Doors and then for Rockweilers in Viroqua. 

     Tony loved his rural community and the people in it.  He and his wife, Elaine, were extremely committed to their church, Grace Evangelical Free in Viroqua, which they helped to found.  It thrilled him to watch the families come with their children.  He also enjoyed football, especially the Wisconsin Badgers!  He could often be seen watching Old Western movies and shows.  He was an avid fan of John Wayne.  

     Tony was preceded in death by his father, Raymond, his mother, Vernice, and his siblings, Nancy and Terry.   Also preceding him was their son, Gregory and grandson, Matthew.  Tony is survived by their children, Alan, Debbie, Becki and Paul.  They also have 16 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.  

     As we contemplate Tony’s life, there are so many life lessons to learn.  He taught us that God’s grace is immense and when we fall, He forgives and helps us to continue on in His love.  He taught us to see people and to care about them and a smile freely given is sometimes the most needed gift.  Tony and Elaine would both tell us that they would want God to be glorified in all things, even in their leaving us.  

    A Visitation will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Grace Evangelical Free Church from 12 - 2 p.m. with a Graveside Service to follow at Viola Cemetery. 

    Roth Family Cremation Center and Funeral Services is assisting the family.  

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