Warner, Walter O. 1896-1975

WARNER, LARSON, WOODS, FITZGERALD, LINCOLN, MCCURRY, SHEELER, BALDWIN, GANTZ, PROFFITT

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/8/2012 at 09:47:46

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Feb. 3, 1975

MR. WARNER RITES TODAY

Walter O. Warner, 78, of 616 Park St., Grinnell, died Thursday evening, Jan. 30, at his home of an apparent heart attack.

The son of Gustaf and Wilhelmina Larson Warner, he was born Oct. 24, 1896, in Jefferson County near Salina. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith. During World War I he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with 168th Infantry in France. Following his discharge, he worked at the Dexter Washing Machine Co. in Fairfield.

In 1920, he was married to Wilma Woods in Fairfield. The couple had four children, Bruce Warner of Lincoln, Neb., Charles and John Warner of Cedar Rapids, and Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald, also of Cedar Rapids.

Mr. Warner worked for a Minneapolis plumbing and heating contractor and worked throughout the Midwest on construction sites. During World War II he worked in shipyards on the West Coast.

After the death of his wife Wilma, Mr. Warner came to Grinnell in 1947 and established his own business, Warner Plumbing and Heating. On Dec. 24, 1947, he was married to May Lincoln McCurry in Toledo. His health had failed in recent years, and because of the loss of his eyesight he had been confined to his home. Mrs. May Warner died June 14, 1970.

Mr. Warner is survived by his four children; four step-children, Gene McCurry, Mrs. Alvin (Evelyn) Sheeler and Gerald McCurry, all of Grinnell, and Clarence "Duke" McCurry of Jefferson City, Mo.; 21 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Richard Warner of Fairfield; and two sisters, Mrs. Nora Baldwin and Mrs. Etta Gantz, both of Fairfield. He was preceded in death by his wives; one grandchild; four brothers, Elmer, Frank, John and Henry; and one sister, Mrs. Anna Proffitt.

Funeral services for Mr. Warner were held at 2 p.m. today (Monday) at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Marcus E. Reitz, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, officiating. Organist was Mrs. Willard Heffner. Pallbearers were Everett Armstrong, Ernest Blankenfeld, Bernard Crocker, Robert Henderson, Floyd Kaisand Jr., and Roger Lincoln. Honorary pallbearers were Dave, Ken, Mike, Randy, and Steven McCurry.

Graveside rites were conducted by Marion Gibson, commander, and Edwin M. Richardson, chaplain, of the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Burial was at Hazelwood Cemetery.