Gaynard "Gay" Warnecke, 88, died Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM Monday, March 1, 2010 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. Military honors will be provided by the Ecklund-Holmstrom American Legion Post #117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 6:00 PM prayer service on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM on Monday at the church.

Gaynard Bernard Warnecke was born June 4, 1921 in Breckenridge, MN, the son of Adolph and Emma (Johnson) Warnecke. Gay attended grade school in Breckenridge and Aberdeen. When he was nine years old, he and his family moved to Thief River Falls. He grew to adulthood there and graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls in 1940.

Gay enlisted into service with the United States Navy in 1942 and served in the Submarine Force in Pearl Harbor. Following his Honorable Discharge in 1945, Gay returned to Thief River Falls where he worked at Ace Hardware for five years. He was then employed by Midland Cooperatives and proudly worked there for 32 years until his retirement in 1982.

He was united in marriage to Ruby Kompelien on July 10, 1950 in Thief River Falls, MN. To this union they were blessed with one daughter, Carole.

Gay was a proud lifetime member of the Sportsmans Club, American Legion and VFW. He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved anything outdoors including hunting, fishing trips with his wife and gardening. Gay spent many hours woodworking and made many bookshelves, lawn ornaments and Christmas decorations. He also enjoyed practicing taxidermy. Gay treasured his family and was a proud husband and father.

Survivors include his loving wife of almost 60 years, Ruby of Thief River Falls; daughter, Carole Beedy (Gordon Delap) of Thief River Falls, MN; son-in-law, Mike Beedy of Thief River Falls, MN and his dog, Bailey.

He is preceded in death by his parents as well as his brother, Vernon.

Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

Accompanist: Kristi LaSalle
Cantor: Shelly Burkel
Reader: Patty Schob
Casketbearers: Don Jorstad, Wayne Plencner, Mike Beedy, Barney Wiskow, John Sannes, Ray Fuller
Military Honors: Ecklund-Holmstrom American Legion Post #117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793.