Earl E. Warnke

Earl E. Warnke, 80, of Port Clinton, OH, passed away on June 03, 2009 at Riverview Healthcare Campus, Oak Harbor, OH, after a brief illness. Earl was born on June 06, 1928 in Port Clinton, OH the son of Ralph L. and Josephine Michelsen Warnke. On May 3, 1951, in Caledonia, OH, he married Patricia Pommert and she preceded him in death in 1989. Earl was a Port Clinton High School graduate, then went on to graduate from The Ohio State University and received his Masters degree from Ohio University. Earl then attended the U.S. Army Band School. Earl served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a soloist, arranger and leader in the U.S. Army Bands. Earl retired as the Band Director for Port Clinton High School and City Schools. He was also the present Band Director for the Port Clinton Community Band. Earl had also been the Band Director for Middleport High School, Middleport, OH, Caledonia High School, Caledonia, OH and past youth choir director of St. John Lutheran Church. He was past court investigator for the Ottawa County Probate Court. Earls memberships included: The Ohio State Alumni Association; Ottawa County Ohio State University Alumni Association; TBDBITL OSU Marching Band; Kappa Kappa Psi-Band Honorary; Buckeye Boosters; Port Clinton Elks Lodge #1718; American Legion #113; Script Ohio Club; Ohio Music Education Association, where he was a past district president; Ohio Retired Teachers Association and the Port Clinton High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Earl received the Jack Lorenzen Service Award. He was honored by the Port Clinton High School Alumni Association with The Legends of Music. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, golfing and bridge. He loved his children and grandchildren very much. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends. Survivors include: Daughters: Debra Richard Strickling of Reynoldsburg, OH, Diane Hal Hawk of Fremont, OH; Grandchildren: Rachel Myers of Reynoldsburg, OH, Megan and Morgan Hawk of Fremont, OH; Special Companion of 19 years: Cheryl Greunke of Port Clinton, OH. Earl was preceded in death by his parents and wife: Patricia. Visitation will be 2-8PM, Friday, June 5, 2009 in the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home and Crematory, Port Clinton, OH. Funeral services will be conducted by Reverend James Lehman at 1:00PM, Saturday, June 6, 2009, in St. John Lutheran Church, Port Clinton, OH, where additional visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Earl, may be given to the to be established Earl E. Warnke Port Clinton High School Band Endowed Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 987, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.