Warren “Nick” R. Bouquet, 79 of Burlington died at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2007, at Great River Hospice House. 

      Born March 20, 1928 in Burlington he was the son of Nicholas V. and Ida C. Lehmann Bouquet.  On June 20, 1952 he married Carolyn R. Wachutka at First United Methodist Church in Burlington.   He lived most of his entire life on the corner of Curran and Kirkwood waving to all who passed by.  

      He was a 1945 graduate of Burlington High School and a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean Conflict. 

      Nick was a Burlington Firefighter for 35 ½ years retiring in 1984.  Many of those years he was stationed at the Summer Street Fire Station.   After retiring he served the First United Methodist Church as their custodian.  He took much pride in his church building.   He especially made sure that the brass was always shining on Sunday morning!

       He was a member and past treasurer of the International Association of Professional Firefighters Local #301.   He also belonged to the Moose Club.   He was a member of Great River Friends and volunteered many years at both the Klein Unit and at Great River Medical Center.   

      Airplanes were his passion.  He could identify most any airplane in the sky and would often run outside to watch planes fly over his home.   He was a member of the Burlington Model Airplane Club and enjoyed building and flying his radio-controlled airplanes.  He was a past president of the club and secretary/newsletter editor for more than 20 years. 

      Nick enjoyed spending summers in Maine.  He and his wife went to Maine each summer for over 30 years.

      Nick took much pride that his grandfather, Nicholas S Bouquet, served in the Civil War and was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in the state of Iowa.  He always saw to it that an American Flag was flying at his grandfather’s grave. 

      A loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, he is survived by his wife Carolyn; his children, James W. (Catherine) Bouquet of Auburn, ME, Sandra L. (James) Carslick of Brunswick ME and Robert W. (Chriss) Bouquet of Allen, TX; his grandchildren, Nicholas Bouquet, Curtis Bateman, Janelle Carslick (Mohamed) El Ghazouani, Joshua Carslick, David P. Bouquet and Jennifer Bouquet; and nieces and nephews, Barb Wilkason, David N. Bouquet, Sean, Lisabeth and Neil Wachutka.   His parents and brother Charles preceded him in death.
          
       Nick will be remembered by all as a friendly, gracious, gentle man.