Esther Schmidt Warneke's Obituary
Esther was born on April 3, 1919 in Corvallis, Oregon. She was the daughter of Walter and Marie Heeszel Schmidt. She attended grade schools in Corvallis, and graduated from Corvallis High School in 1936. Esther worked with her family in their father's grocery store, Schmidt's Grocery in Corvallis until 1944. Then she was employed by Specialty Auto Glass Company in Portland until her marriage to Kenneth Paul Warneke on June 22, 1947.
The family moved to St. Helens in 1954 where Kenneth was the payroll supervisor of the Boise Cascade Paper Mill. Kenneth preceded Esther in death in 1974.
Esther was a proud homemaker and mother. Her specialty was cake decorating. She had a diploma from the Wilton School of Cake Decorating and taught classes both in her home and for Portland Community College. She also sold home decorated cakes and goodies. She had many hobbies and especially liked quilting, gardening and traveling.
Survivors include her seven children and their families:
John and Diane Warneke of St. Helens and grandchildren - Bret and Josie, Brian and Kathy, Brandon and Megan;
Fred and Anne Warneke of St. Paul, Minnesota and grandchildren - Joshua and Dawnfelice, Noel and Israel, Andrew and Andrea, Kerwin and Heather, Tristan, Edmund and Marcia;
Rob and Pam Warneke of St. Paul, Minnesota and grandchildren - Sam and Jessamine, Amanda, Ron, Cindy and Rick, Ethan and Lorraine, Walter and Regel, Kevin and Ashley, Martin, Timothy, Johanna, Dustin and Darian;
Doug and Kristy Warneke of Scappoose and grandchildren - Julie, Lauren, Wolfgang Kenneth, and Scott;
Maria Warneke and David Preston of Scappoose;
George and Susan Warneke of Portland and grandchildren - Chad and Stephanie, Nicole and Ryan, Travis and Heidi;
Will and Jill Warneke of Covington, Washington and grandchildren - Alex, Chelsea and Hayden.
Also surviving are 44 great-grandchildren, one sister, Marie Grossnicklaus of Corvallis, brother, Walt and his wife, Wilma, Schmidt of Corvallis, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and many many dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Gertrude, Renata and Ruth, cousins, aunts and uncles.
What’s your fondest memory of Esther?
What’s a lesson you learned from Esther?
Share a story where Esther's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Esther you’ll never forget.
How did Esther make you smile?