SHAKOPEE, MN – Warren L. Bush, a prominent horseman in both Iowa and Minnesota, passed away last week at the age of 74. Bush succumbed after a long illness in Des Moines, IA. Bush was a successful attorney, racehorse breeder and owner in Iowa and Minnesota, but his bottom line is that he was a wonderful human being.
“Dad loved people, especially kids,” said son Scott Bush in a statement on Facebook. “He would get on a knee, look his ‘sweethearts’ in the eye and engage them in a way that made them feel like a million bucks. He loved to be around the kids and their friends.”
“My heart is broken losing Warren. I don’t know what to say,” said Dove Hill Farm owner, Lisa Duuos Smrekar. Smrekar foaled out many of Bush’s Minnesota breds. “He was a hands-on horseman and an ambassador of thoroughbred racing and breeding. He did the research, knew his pedigrees and he would always there for his horses. He was proud of the team he put together here in Minnesota as well as Iowa, Florida and Kentucky – all of us that touched his horses. He really loved this sport.”
“He was one owner whose horses always came first,” said long time trainer Mac Robertson. “If a horse needed a rest, had a little bump or bruise, Warren always had me give the horse the time he needed. You can’t say that about a lot of trainers, but I don’t remember a single time that he ever said to me, ‘let’s try one more’ or anything. When they were done, they were done. He was a good man.”
Bush was born in Windom, Minnesota and spent his adult life in Wall Lake, Iowa as a practicing attorney, Sac County Magistrate and a founding member of The Biodiesel Group. The members helped launch the biodiesel production facilities in Wall Lake, Newton, Washington, and Farley.
In Minnesota, his “big horse” is 2019 Canterbury Park Horse of the Year, Hot Shot Kid. The Kid is a multiple stakes winner and earned $667,575. His top Iowa bred is Minecraft Maniac, a three-time winner of the Governor Terry Branstad Stakes at Prairie Meadows and earner of $337,610. Both were named for grandchildren, like many of his horses, and are still active runners.
Bush was always willing to talk in victory and defeat and was a true gentleman in every way.
Bush is survived by his wife Linda of Wall Lake, to whom he was married over 50 years; sons Chad (Angie) of West Des Moines, Scott (Jessica) of Norwalk and Tobin (Stephanie) of Waukee; and five grandchildren – Adrian, Nile, Xavier, Mary and Ellie.
There will be a celebration of life on Friday, June 24th at Glenn Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, IA at 6 PM. In lieu of flowers, mourners may direct memorials to the Warren Bush Memorial Fund at Westside State, Bank, Box 425, Wall Lake, IA 51466.
