Emily Warner

MONONA-Emily (Hoffman) Warner, age 96, passed in peace on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, surrounded by her family.  Emily was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1921.  She was a very special little girl, born two months premature and weighed only 2.5 lbs.  Doctors believed she would not survive, but Emily surprised everyone. At the age of four, she came to America to live with her parents on the family farm located between Stoughton and Oregon.  Emily’s strength was not only demonstrated as a baby, but she also outlived her four younger siblings.  Others often referred to her as being a spirited woman with great inner strength and a love of life. After high school graduation, Emily left the farm to attend beauty school in Madison where she became a registered cosmetologist.  In 1946, she married Kenneth Warner and had two daughters.  Emily chose to stay at home with her “girls” until they were school age. She returned to the work force and was employed at Oakwood Lutheran Home as manager of the salon for over 40 years, making many friends along the way.  She retired at age 81. Our mother and grandmother will be remembered for many things.  Her love for her two grandchildren, Elliot and Aaron Klein, her wicked sense of humor and spit fire personality that kept everyone laughing and for her sweet loving smile.  Emily had the innate ability to make people feel comfortable to the point where they shared their innermost thoughts with her, much to their own surprise. Her love for animals was obvious to all, especially the bond she had with her cat, Moa, who lived with her at Heritage Monona. Emily is survived by her two daughters, Linda Minash and Patty Warner (Bruce Klein); and two grandchildren, Elliot and Aaron (Lori) Klein; aunt, Trudy Hofmann; and cousin, Eugene Hofmann.  In Emily’s later years, she often spoke of her neighbors, who were also good friends, Marian Raether, Barbara and Debbie Swenson, Dale and Donna Bosenberry, all who loved and supported her, Mike Minash who always lent a helping hand, her church visitors, and numerous other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Emma (Richner) Hoffman; her husband, Kenneth (Buzz) Warner; son-in-law, David Wright; three sisters, Alice, Ruth and Sylvia; one brother, Alfred; uncle, Victor; and dear friend, Lucille Harrison. Emily requested a gravesite burial, which will be held at EVERGREEN HILL CEMETERY, 2860 Evergreen Rd. Middleton, at 1 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. Memorials may be gifted in Emily’s name to the Dane County Humane Society, Agrace Hospice Care or a charity of your choice.  A special thank you to Agrace HospiceCare and to the Agrace volunteer, Lois, Heritage Monona Assisted Living (Enhanced Care), and to Dr. Bain and his nursing staff for the care of our mother. We adored our mother and will carry her in our hearts forever. Most of all, we will miss not having her in our daily lives and hope our devotion to her in her later years made a difference in her quality of life. Online condolences may be made at gundersonfh.com  Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420