Obituary of Mary Ann Warnke

MARY ANN WARNKE A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Glen Oaks Memorial Park for Mary Ann Warnke. Mary Ann passed away on Nov. 25, 2008 here in Chico. She was 71. Mary Ann was the middle child of Virgil Plummer and Berdell Amelia (Sampson) Lair born August 19, 1937 in Mason City, Iowa. She was raised on a farm near Rock Falls, Iowa and attended the local school from kindergarten through graduation. While in school, Mary Ann was active in the school band playing the drums and French horn, cheerleading and softball. She attended the Methodist Church in Rock Falls and was very active in the Youth Fellowship and also a Sunday School teacher for preschoolers. After graduation, she went to Minneapolis to attend business school and while on a Sunday School picnic with her aunt and a friend, she met her future husband, Foster Warnke. They married the following year, April 21, 1956 and had 43 years together until his death in 1999. Foster was in the U.S.A.F. and they lived on various air bases including 3 years in Germany. While in the service, Mary Ann was active in the NCO Wives club and held several offices. Following Foster's retirement from the Air Force, they located to Chico in 1972 where they lived the remainder of their lives. Mary Ann was employed by the County of Butte in the Recorder's Office for 19 years and retired in 1994. Mrs. Warnke liked to read, work crossword puzzles and bowl. She was an active voluntee for the American Cancer Society and participated in the annual Relay for Life Walk for ever years. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Erie; her parents and one sister. Survivors include sons, Steven and Keith and daughter, Jayne Steinberg. Also, five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Patty and two brothers, Fred Lair and John Lair. Anyone wanting to make a memorial contribution in her name may do so to the American Cancer Society, c/o Bidwell Chapel. Online condolences can be made to www.bidwellchapel.com. Published