Paul H. Warneke

NORFOLK – Funeral service for Paul H. Warneke, 89, of Norfolk, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, September 12, 2025 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Rev. Ray Wilke and Rev. Chris Asbury will be officiating the service. Interment will be at the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Norfolk. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 16, V.F.W. Post 1644, and United States Army Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Grace Lutheran Church or the Orphan Grain Train. Paul passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at the St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Care Center in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Paul was born on June 16, 1936 in Norfolk to Hugo and Sarah (Kollmar) Warneke. He grew up on the farm during his school years attending rural district country schools in Wayne County and Pierce County through the 8th grade. Paul attended Pierce High School graduating in 1954. He then went to Business College in Sioux City, IA for 1 year. Paul enlisted into the United States Army from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1957. Paul married Dorla J. Hitz on November 17, 1957 at Zion Lutheran Church in Pierce. After marriage the family lived in Pierce until 1963 when they moved to Norfolk. He was employed for 50 years in the newspaper business at the Pierce Leader and the Norfolk Daily News. He also co-owned Norfolk Implement. Paul was a member at Grace Lutheran Church and held several church office positions. He was also very active throughout his life serving as a volunteer at the Orphan Grain Train, Camp Luther Board of Directors, Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery Board of Directors, and mentor for Norfolk Teammates. Paul enjoyed bowling (attended Nationals 32 times), and golfing at Fairplay Golf Course, rural Norfolk. Paul is survived by his wife Dorla Warneke of Norfolk, children Kathryn (Michael) Test of Pierce, Steven (Dora) Warneke of El Paso, TX, David (Debra) Warneke of Beatrice, Blake (Cami) Warneke of Omaha, 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and brother Mervyn (Linda) Warneke of Lincoln, NE. He is preceded in death by his parents Hugo and Sarah Warneke, brother Milton Warneke, three siblings in infancy and father-in-law and mother-in-law Arnold and Lucille Hitz. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Paul H. Warneke

June 16, 1936 - September 6, 2025