Warren Edward Grabau died Monday, Dec. 8, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. He was 89.

Born in Albion, Mich., he was the son of the late Carl John Grabau and Agnes Marie Luebke. Mr. Grabau had been a resident of Vicksburg since 1956, except for a brief period when he lived in Kansas and for six years that he spent in London.

Mr. Grabau held bachelor of science and master of science degrees in geology from Michigan State University. He began his career as a consulting geologist for a private company in Rockford, Ill. He then worked for the U.S. Geological Survey in Washington, D.C. He spent most of his professional career at Waterways Experiment Station.

He retired in 1985 after serving as research natural scientist for the Corps of Engineers at the USA Research, Development, & Standardization Group in London. He was awarded the Department of the Army R&D Achievement award in 1970 and the Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service award in 1973 and 1984. During his career, he authored numerous technical papers on a variety of subjects. After retirement, Mr. Grabau devoted most of his time to research and writing about the Civil War. He is the author of “Ninety-Eight Days, A Geographer’s View of the Vicksburg Campaign.” He and Edwin C. Bearss authored “The Battle of Jackson, May 14, 1863”; and they found the Union ironclad gunboat Cairo in the Yazoo River in 1956. His most recent publication, with Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Parker Hills is “Vicksburg Campaign” driving tour guide, for the Friends of the Vicksburg Campaign and Historic Trail. He also authored “The Evolution of Geomorphology” with H.J. Walker.

He was preceded in death by Mary Elizabeth Caldwell Grabau and Elizabeth Jean McAndrew Grabau; and three brothers, Irvin, David, and Earl Grabau.

He is survived by his daughter, Kathryn Grabau Davis of Mooresville, Ala.; his sister, Betty Smith of Marshall, Mo.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Crawford Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Geoffrey Joyner and the Rev. Walter Frazier officiating. Visitation will be at the church, in the second-floor common area of Wesley Hall, from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crawford Street United Methodist Church; to Millsaps College; or to charities of choice.