Obituary of Harriett Sue Warnke

Harriett Sue (Raymond) Warnke, the daughter of Ross L. Raymond and Amy E. (Hakeman) Raymond, was born August 15, 1927, at Sanborn, Iowa. She grew up on a farm east of Sanborn, attending grade school at Country School, Lincoln #9 and attending high school at Sanborn Public School, graduating in 1944. Harriett was united in marriage to Kenneth Henry Warnke on June 4, 1955, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina, Iowa. Kenneth and Harriett were blessed with four sons: Matthew, Kirk, Phillip, and Bret. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Paullina, Ogden, and Nevada, Iowa, before moving to Sanborn in 1966. Harriett had jobs at Sawyer’s Meat Market, Pike Cafe, and Sanborn Community School as Secretary (her favorite). She was a partner in opening the Queen Shop in Sanborn in 1971. For many years, Harriett wrote the “Locals” social column for the Sanborn Pioneer. Her greatest occupation was being a homemaker. After Kenneth’s death, she moved to the Manor in Sanborn, Iowa. In September 2015, Harriett suffered a stroke and subsequently moved to Friendship Haven at Fort Dodge, Iowa. Harriett passed away at Friendship Haven on February 25, 2020, at the age of 92. Harriett enjoyed being an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sanborn, especially serving in multiple capacities with Ladies Aid. She thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Birthday Club with a close group of friends. Her greatest joy was being a stay-at-home mother and caring for her family. Favorite pastimes included any activities or time spent with family, Hen Parties with her siblings, and later, their extended families, planning family get-togethers, BINGO, collecting pigs, working crossword puzzles, reading, and finally, loving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law: Matthew and Kimberly Warnke, Arnolds Park, Iowa, Kirk and Delaine Warnke, Manson, Iowa, Phillip and Lori Warnke, Sheldon, Iowa, and Bret and Linda Warnke, Ida Grove, Iowa; grandchildren and spouses: Kelli (Justin) Reuter, Manson, Iowa, Bethany (Georges) Hajj, West Des Moines, Iowa, Erryn (Sean) O’Conner, Huxley, Iowa, Whitni Warnke, Des Moines, Iowa, Ryan (Kayla) Warnke, Algona, Iowa, Alex (Katelyn) Warnke, Holstein, Iowa, Rachel Warnke (Marc Meyer), Holstein, Iowa, Amy Warnke, Sheldon, Iowa, Nolan Warnke (Hannah Brotherton), Ida Grove, Iowa, and Ty Warnke, Ames, Iowa; great-grandchildren: Griffin Reuter, Aven Reuter, Sullivan O’Conner, Elijah Warnke, Mason Warnke, Theodore O’Conner, Joshua Warnke and Baby Hajj; one sister-in-law, Beverly Andersen, Ankeny, Iowa; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ross and Amy; her husband, Kenneth; siblings: Merton, Faye, Lee, Fern, Ruth, Joyce, and Jay; one brother-in-law, Roger; and several nieces and nephews.