Dale J Warner

WARNER, Dale J, 93, of Land O’Lakes, FL, died Dec. 31, 2015. He was born in Oakland, IL. Dale was a veteran of the US Army. As a long time president of Gits Bros. Mfg. Co., Dale was instrumental in several mergers and acquisitions eventually tripling the size of the firm. He was awarded twenty six patents and created several long lasting business relationships major US manufacturers. After his retirement in 1986, Dale remained on the Board of Directors until 1990. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen. He is survived by his children, Lynn Marie (Eugene) Turovetz, Dale James (Avelina) Warner, Norma Lee (Rodney) Matthews; Grandchildren David (Carol) Turovetz, Elise Jay, and Brian Turovetz, Valerie (Christopher) Warner-Null, Andrew (Amy) Warner, John (Tammy) Matthews and Steven (Sarah) Matthews; Great-grandchildren David Michael and Joshua Turovetz, Justin Jay, Madison Warner, Simone and Vidya Matthews. Growing up on the farm, Dale attended a one room school house and then attended and graduated from the local High School. While this was the limit of his formal education, he was always intent on learning from his life experiences and applied them quite successfully. Soon after leaving the farm, World War II erupted and he entered the army weighing only 135 lbs. His health soon deteriorated and he was medically discharged before completing his training. He worked a variety of jobs during the war and was trained in Quality Control while working for Sikorsky. With the down turn in defense procurement after the war, he found employment selling appliances in a local store in Chicago. Later he went to work for the Aircraft Engine Division of Ford again in Quality Control. At the time the Ford plant was one of the largest manufacturing facilities in Chicago. There Ford manufactured piston engines and later jet engines under license from Pratt and Whitney. While at Ford, Dale rose to the head of Quality Control and later to Plant Operations Manager. During his stint at Ford, Dale worked with Robert McNamara and Edward Demming among others. Demming later relocated to Japan where his expertise in Quality Control launched the modern Japanese industrial revolution. As the 1950’s came to an end, the defense industry again contracted and Ford lost its license with Pratt and Whitney. After leaving Ford in 1959, Dale found employment with a family owned business, Gits Brothers Manufacturing Company in Chicago. Gits manufactured a variety of lubricating devices as well as mechanical shaft seals. Dale’s first position there was Head of Quality Control where he established modern quality systems. Within a year there, he became the operations manager, the highest position held by a nonfamily member. In the 1960’s the Gits family sold its interest in the company to Apache Corporation. Under Apache ownership, Dale moved up the corporate ladder to Vice President and eventually to President of Gits Brothers Manufacturing. During this period Dale was involved in several mergers, acquisitions, and sales at the corporate level. Eventually, Gits Brothers itself was sold to a Valley Forge Corporation and Dale was retained as President and Board Member. Dale was instrumental in creating several long lasting business relationships including ones with A. W. Chesterton Company and AirResearch Corporation. After his retirement in 1986, Dale remained on the Board of Directors. There, his last major accomplishment was the sale of a major portion of Gits Brothers Manufacturing to A. W. Chesterton, a deal he deemed to be a natural, optimal outcome for both companies. With this last deal accomplished, Dale left active management to enjoy his retirement on a full time basis.