Anita M. Warnke

Anita M. Warnke, 96, Wausau, died Monday, October 10, 2016 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. She was born January 10, 1920 in Wausau, daughter of the late Otto and Eleanor (Scholz) Strehlow. On September 9, 1944, she married Walter John Warnke in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. At the time, Walter was serving in the United States Army during World War II. Anita worked in a defense plant during the war. Once, while she and her best friend were goofing off, the foreman told them our servicemen's lives depended on their work. She said that everything was done perfectly after that. Anita had worked at several restaurants, principally Bill's Fine Food, during her married life and later worked at JC Penny's from where she retired in 1975. She said once that she went to work whenever she felt the need for new furniture. During and after retirement, she was a volunteer at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wausau, served on several circles and was a frequent server for the Friday fish fries at the church. She had been a lifelong parishioner (80 + years) at the church until it's closing by the diocese. She later became a parishioner at St. Michael's Catholic Church inWausau until her death. Anita and Walter loved to travel in their Scotty camper, stay at a cabin on Pine Lake outside Minocqua and travel to Herbster, Wisconsin for camping and trout fishing. She is survived by two sons, Richard Warnke, Jefferson Wis. and Robert Warnke, Stevens Point, Wis.; three grandchildren, James (Lisa) Warnke, Jennifer Stensby and Sara (Chad) Pagel; six great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Andrew, Madison, Sienna, Nicholas and Connor; four siblings, Gerald Strehlow, Rosemarie Roubinek, Jane (Vince) Ala and David (Darlene) Strehlow; four sisters-in-law, Esther, Mary, Beverly and Sue; and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, Walter, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Herbert, Raymond, Joseph, Eugene and Thomas Strehlow. To all of her family and friends, she valued your friendship and being there for her. Private services will be held for members of the immediate family. There will be no visitation or memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Michael Catholic Church, 619 Stark Street, Wausau, WI 54403. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com