Warner Carl Walrath

       Warner Carl Walrath, the son of Carl and Velma (Tillinghast) Walrath was born July 14, 1921 in Linn Grove, Iowa.  When Warner was an infant, his family moved to the family farm north of Peterson. He attended a one-room country schoolhouse for 8 years and graduated from Peterson High School in 1939. After graduation, he attended Farm Youth School at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa offered through the 4-H.  After he completed the course, he returned to the family farm where he farmed with his mother, Velma.

     Warner married Julia Mae Larson on November 28, 1943 at the 1st Congregational Church in Peterson.  After their marriage, they continued to farm the family farm for 21 years.  During this period, they were blessed with the birth of four daughters.

     In 1964, he took a full-time position with the Department of Agriculture as the office manager in the O’Brien County ASCS office and the family moved to Primghar, Iowa. In 1977 Warner and Julia moved to Tipton, Iowa where he took the position of ASCS District Director for a 9 county region in Southern Iowa.

     Warner retired in 1983 and he and Julia moved to Spencer, Iowa.  Warner was an active member of the First Congregational Church in Spencer where he sang in the choir for many years and was on the board of deacons.  Warner loved music and was active in many singing groups.  He was a member of the Clay County Extension Office Council. He also enjoyed gardening and collecting antique John Deere tractors.  He was a member of the Two Cylinder Club and drove in many tractor rides.  As recently as 2015 at the age of 94, Warner was still able to help out on the family owned farm at harvesting time.

      Warner and Julia loved to travel and visited their children and grandchildren often, including a trip to see a family member in the Soviet Union in 1990. Family members now live in Missouri, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, Oregon, New York and Prague, Czech Republic.

     Warner died at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer on Thursday November 14, 2019 at the age of 98.  He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Florence Abbott; two brothers, Wayne and Keith and a son-in-law, Dr. John Marten.

     Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Julia of Spencer; four daughters: Judy Marten of Lafayette, IN; Marilyn Hansen (Norm Redd) of Littleton, CO; Ilene Evans (Gary Evans) of Cottage Grove, OR; and Diana Bern (Brad Bern) of Roxborough, CO.  Also eight grandchildren:  Brian Marten, Allen Marten, Colleen Caito, David Marten, Cliff Hansen, Eric Hansen, Michelle Bern and Matthew Bern; and 12 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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OFFICIATING

CASKET BEARERS

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