Donna Warnecke

Walking free of pain at last, Donna Love Warnecke, 93, of McCutchenville and formerly of Fostoria, left her earthly body at 12:09 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital.
Donna was born Jan. 3, 1932, in Tiffin, to Fred and Gladys (Godfrey) Mullholand. On Dec. 5, 1975, Donna married her soulmate, Sylvester (Shorty) Warnecke at Trinity United Church of Christ in McCutchenville. At this time she was also blessed with the addition of six children whom she accepted as her very own. For 20 years they traveled the world together, raised their family and built wonderful memories until his passing in 1995.
One thing Donna cherished the most was being a mother and grandmother. She treated everyone as her own and many were blessed to have the honor of her presence in their lives. She has left an impact on every single life she touched, but none more than her own.
Cherishing the memories she shared are her daughter, Vicki (John) Kingseed of McCutchenville; step-children, Nanette (Sam) Flood of Sycamore, Verna (Dale) Schultz of Fremont, Miriam (Randy) Tusing of Sylvania and Sheila Jeffery of Tiffin; a son, Gerald (Carol) Warnecke of New Riegel; blessed grandchildren, Erica (Jamie) Harper, Emily (Brian) Danner, Nick (Amy) Cleland, Erin (Keith) Sherwood and Amber (Rollo) Nye; step-grandchildren, Rachael (Adam) Bils, James (Kristie) Tusing, Monica Drouillard, Stephen Tusing, Mary Tusing, David (Melissa) Tusing, Christina (Derek) Duffey, Matthew (Kristin) Jeffery, Paul Schultz, Brian Shultz, Kari (Jacob) Warner, Kevin (Katrina) Schultz, Kelli (Clarence) Doyle, Penny (Donald) Lawrence, Charles (Kathy) Mogle, Kimberly (Dan) Brickner and Jason Czeczeli; many great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Franci Risner; and many nieces and nephews who loved “aunt Donnie.”
Opening the gates of Heaven impatiently awaiting her arrival are her parents, Fred and Gladys Mullholand; husband, Sylvester (Shorty) Warnecke; daughter, Ina Warnecke; siblings, Marilyn Snyder and Fred Mullholand; great-granddaughter, Kori Sherwood; nieces, Tabitha Risner and Cathy Risner; nephew, Michael Snyder; and her beloved chihuahuas whom she rescued and adored.
A 1950 graduate of McCutchenville High School, she found herself working at Swan Rubber and later on RCA, where she retired. She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in McCutchenville, 4-H advisor for Seneca and Wyandot counties, and volunteered 20+ years at the Geary Family YMCA in Fostoria, teaching arthritis aquatic classes.
When Donna wasn’t volunteering her time helping others, chances are you could find her somewhere on a beach, usually Cancun every spring and fall or hitting up the thrift stores in the Rocky Mountains, usually Carbondale and Glenwood Springs while spending time with her nephew Michael and his wife Darlene up until 2014. When she wasn’t on a plane or train you would often times find her in the garden, sunbathing by the pool or sitting by the fire at her camper. She always shared her love of traveling and camping with family members and friends, taking many of the grandkids on trips all over. You could always count on her having knitting needles in hand making afghans for all the grandkids, a needle in hand making cross stitch bedspreads for her kids and to gift others or sitting behind the sewing machine making quilts for loved ones.
She also found great enjoyment in her time spent in the kitchen, whether it be baking pie, making a fresh loaf of bread, a home cooked meal (her fried chicken was the best!) or canning her fresh garden produce.
Her wish was to continue to help others, even after her last breath, by donating her body to the Ohio State University Department of Anatomy so that others may learn. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date. Her final place of rest will be at Bethel Cemetery, McCutchenville, at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, Tiffin.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fostoria YMCA or to Wyandot County Humane Society.
To send online condolences go to www.traunerofuneralhome.com.