Millard H. “Mel” Warnken, 93, died at Careage of Whidbey on May 9, 2011.

He was born Oct. 31, 1917, in Winona, Minn., to Edward and Elizabeth (Grapentine) Warnken. He spent his early years in Winona. Mel served in the U.S. Army during World War II as an anti-aircraft artillery gunner from 1940 to 1945 and was discharged as a corporal on Oct. 9, 1945.

Mel was a trained meat cutter. He owned two meat markets, one in Winona and the other in Denver. He was married to Evelyn M. Gingras on Aug. 21, 1971 in Fort Collins, Colo. He retired after 40 years of cutting meat and moved to Oak Harbor. He was a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge 2362 and the American Legion, George Morris Post 129, all of Oak Harbor. Mel enjoyed playing cards and gardening.

Mel is survived by his beloved wife Evelyn; by his two children, Clifford H. Warnken and wife Paula of Lebanon, Ohio, and Edward H. Warnken and wife Robin of Erie, Colo.; two step- children, Charles A. Knox (Maria) of Burlington and Giselle R. Dew (Michael) of Gig Harbor; and by grandchildren Andrew, Kristin, Jonathan and Devin Warnken, Yvonne Dew, Michelle Dew, Nicole Walsh and Karen Knox. He was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.

Funeral Mass for Millard Warnken will be was celebrated on Friday, May 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Rev. Philip Raether as Celebrant. Interment will follow at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor.