Randall Warnke

Randall Otto Warnke, loving husband and father, passed away on Monday, July 15, 2024, in Brooksville, Florida, at the age of 97. He was born December 16, 1926, in Richmond, Indiana. Randall worked on the family farm in Brems, Indiana, from boyhood to adulthood, and he graduated from Knox High School in 1944. While in school, he played trumpet in the Starke County Band and played basketball for Knox High School. As a 4-H Club member, he exhibited livestock at the annual Starke County 4-H Fairs. Randall went on to study at Purdue University with scholarships for short courses in agriculture. The US Army drafted Randall in March 1952 and soon assigned him to the 221st Army Band, stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Randall loved to tell this army story. Originally, their plans were to assign him to drive a truck. However, an officer sent him to the band director for an audition. The band director’s first question: “When a musician is presented with a new piece of music, what is the first action that musician takes?” Randall answered, “Look at the key signature.” The band director replied, “You’re in!” Randall was honorably discharged at the rank of corporal in March 1954. That spring he met Clara Williams, and their summer romance led to a wedding on December 26, 1954, in College Church, Central, South Carolina. After working on the farm over the years, Randall decided to train to be a meatcutter in Toledo, Ohio, and worked at the Kingsbury Locker Plant for several years. In the early 1970s, he made one more career move by taking an exam to qualify for employment with the US Post Office. His high score awarded him a position as a postal worker in North Judson, Indiana, until he retired in 1988. Randall survived melanoma cancer in 1979, when his right eye had to be removed. He also survived colon cancer in 1994, when his colon had to be removed. Randall liked to tell the story of what happened when he was in the ER at Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville. An attending doctor asked him if he ever smoked, to which he replied no. Next, the doctor asked if he ever drank, and again he answered no. Finally, the doctor inquired if he had ever taken illicit drugs, and he said no. Then, the doctor told him, “That is why you’re still alive at your age.” Unfortunately, covid pneumonia took his life, and he passed away in Tampa General Hospital Brooksville. Randall is survived by his wife, Clara, of 69 years; a sister, Mina Beam; a son, David Warnke; and a daughter, Deborah (Jay) Beuoy. He was “Opa” to his surviving grandchildren Leah (Ryan) Richter, Tiffany (Aaron) Andrews, Gwendolyn (Matt) Unruh, Julian Pinilla (Jessica Rosiak), and Mary (Rielly) Nemec; and great granddaughters Maris Richter and Elora Andrews. He is also survived by a niece, Lisa Beam; and nephews Bill, Glenn, John, Jim, and Howard Norem. Randall is preceded in death by his parents, Otto Warnke and Edith Stigleman Warnke; a sister, Mary Norem; and a daughter, Rhonda Pinilla. Randall contributed to life as a faithful servant of the Lord. He loved his family, his church, his community, and his country. He was a member of Davis Wesleyan Church and served as a Sunday School teacher and a lay leader. He played his trumpet in the orchestra he led at church, and he managed a softball team in a church softball league. In the 1950s, Randall accompanied Rev. Harold Boyce, Davis Church’s pastor at the time, to the home of Grace James, whom they asked for a loan to build the sanctuary of the church. She granted the loan, and Davis continues to worship within the modified walls of the sanctuary. When he wintered in Brooksville, Florida, he considered it a blessing and privilege to sing in the choir at Brooksville Wesleyan Church on Sunday mornings and for special holiday cantatas. He tithed, giving contributions to Davis Wesleyan and Brooksville Wesleyan Church. He donated to many charitable causes, including Save the Children, Project Hope, Doctors Without Borders, and Habitat for Humanity. The Purdue Boilermaker basketball team thrilled Randall this year as they reached the championship game in the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament for only the second time in 55 years. Throughout the 2023-24 college basketball season, he would ask when Purdue or Zach Edey was playing. It delighted him to see Zach Edey’s performance in his first game with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies in the summer league games in Salt Lake City, Utah. A time for greeting family will be Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 1:00 pm (CDT) at Davis Wesleyan Church, 439 W 1500 S, Hamlet, Indiana, followed by a celebration of life service at 2:00 pm (CDT). A graveside ceremony will follow the service at Randall’s headstone next to his daughter Rhonda’s grave in Hanna Cemetery, on 450 West at W Young Street, Hanna, Indiana. Flowers may be sent to Davis Wesleyan Church, 439 W 1500 S, Hamlet, IN 46532. Or, in place of flowers, visit one of the following to give a gift in Randall’s memory: Davis Wesleyan Church | Please send check to church’s address above. Save The Children https://www.savethechildren.org/ Project Hope https://www.projecthope.org/ Doctors Without Borders https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/ Habitat For Humanity https://www.habitat.org/ Randall’s favorite Bible verse— Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) 28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Randall Warnke

December 16, 1926 - July 15, 2024