The North Lake Management District regrets the passing of one of its retired founding members Paul Warga. His vitality and dedication will be missed.
Warga was key man at Lombardi Golf Classic
By KELLY WELLS
kwells@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 25, 2004

Paul J. Warga Jr. excelled at everything he did - advertising Miller beer, his two-decade stint as executive director of the Vince Lombardi Memorial Classic, and a storybook 60-year marriage to his high school sweetheart.

Warga died Wednesday of a brain tumor at his Town of Delafield home. He was 80.

Warga met his wife, Dorothy, during their high school years when both were active in the glee club at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Milwaukee, she said. They married a few years later and became allies in everything they did.

While Paul Warga enlisted in the U.S. Navy and worked in the supply department at a base in Idaho during World War II, Dorothy Warga got a civilian job on the base. Paul Warga later was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kasaan Bay, Dorothy Warga said Sunday.

After the war, Paul Warga attended Marquette University, graduating cum laude in 1950 in business administration. The next year, he joined the Mathisson Advertising Agency as an account executive.

During 20 years with the agency, he helped develop the successful slogan, "If you've got the time, we've got the beer." He worked primarily with the Miller Brewing account, developing print, radio, television and outdoor ads.

Dorothy Warga also worked at Mathisson, as a private secretary.

Paul Warga eventually formed his own advertising agency, P.J. Warga & Associates. Already a member of the North Hills Country Club in Menomonee Falls, where the Vince Lombardi Memorial Golf Classic is held, Warga's firm began working on the event's advertising. Partners in everything, he and his wife gradually became more involved in the charity, son-in-law Dennis Schimmel said.

"We worked together, shoulder to shoulder," Dorothy Warga noted.

In 1978, Paul Warga was named executive director of the popular celebrity golf outing, a position he held until 2000, raising funds and organizing the event. Despite the long hours, Paul Warga enjoyed the work immensely.

"He gave his all to it. He enjoyed it very much," Dorothy Warga said. She often labored alongside him.

During Warga's 22 years as executive director, the Lombardi charity events expanded to include a 5K run and walk and an annual ball, Schimmel said.

In a 1990 Journal Sentinel article, the Vince Lombardi Memorial Golf Classic's director, Joe Sileno Sr., said Paul Warga was the person who made the popular outing run smoothly.

Paul Warga, in turn, deflected the compliment. "The members make a tremendous sacrifice, giving up the use of the course for two days every year. We try hard to make it an elegant affair," he said.

The Wargas formed relationships with many of the celebrities who came to play in the tournament. The walls of the office in the lower level of their Waukesha County condominium display framed autographed photos of such past participants in the event as comedian Bob Hope, former Packers quarterback Bart Starr and astronauts Alan Shepard and Dan Brandenstein.

"Bart Starr called within, like, an hour and a half" to express his condolences, Schimmel said.

Paul Warga also served on the North Lake Management Association for 10 years, retiring in 1999, Dorothy Warga said. The couple lived on North Lake in the Town of Merton for 30 years before moving to the Town of Delafield in 2000.

In addition to his wife and son-in-law, Paul Warga is survived by daughters Caren Schimmel and Kelly Henricks; a son, Kirk (Jill) Warga; a sister, Anne Theis; and four grandchildren.

Visitation is Monday January 26, 2004 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 3930 N. 92nd St., Milwaukee, at 9:30 a.m. Mass follows at 11 a.m.

From the Jan. 26, 2004 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel