A chapel service was held Friday at Allen Mortuary in Turlock for Harold H. Warkentin, 87, of Hughson. The longtime resident of Stanislaus County died Sept. 9, 2008 after a brief illness.
Born July 19, 1921 to Henry B. and Katherine Warkentin, Harold was a native of Reedley. During World War II, he served in Navy in the South Pacific. After the war he returned to join the family house moving business. In 1953, Mr. Warkentin moved to Turlock and opened Turlock House Movers, moving several thousand houses and buildings throughout the area. He later became a building inspector for the State of California while farming almonds near Hughson. Mr. Warkentin was a fire commissioner for the Turlock Rural Fire Department, and a board member of the old Johnson Joint School near Turlock.
Committed to the Lord as a young man and baptized in the Tulare River in Reedley, Harold belonged to Turlock Covenant Church for many years and most recently became a member of the Hughson United Methodist Church. He was active with the Gideons. He also belonged to the Toastmasters Club at Samaritan Village in Hughson.
He was a gold card member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and the California Team Ropers Association. He was active as a team roper until he retired from roping at age 83. He was known for his love of dogs and horses, especially his favorite horse "Sleepy."
He leaves behind his wife, Mary Alice Warkentin of Hughson; a daughter, Sandra Gaff of Osceola, Ind.; a stepson, David Griffith of Anacortes, Wash.; a stepdaughter, Donna Dellinger of Texas; a sister, Lucille Willems of Reedley; a brother Jack Hiebert of Fresno; and 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by first wife Hazel and daughters Shirley Nelson and Beverly Warkentin.
Remembrances may be sent to Gideons International or to a charity of choice.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /September 17, 2008
Born July 19, 1921 to Henry B. and Katherine Warkentin, Harold was a native of Reedley. During World War II, he served in Navy in the South Pacific. After the war he returned to join the family house moving business. In 1953, Mr. Warkentin moved to Turlock and opened Turlock House Movers, moving several thousand houses and buildings throughout the area. He later became a building inspector for the State of California while farming almonds near Hughson. Mr. Warkentin was a fire commissioner for the Turlock Rural Fire Department, and a board member of the old Johnson Joint School near Turlock.
Committed to the Lord as a young man and baptized in the Tulare River in Reedley, Harold belonged to Turlock Covenant Church for many years and most recently became a member of the Hughson United Methodist Church. He was active with the Gideons. He also belonged to the Toastmasters Club at Samaritan Village in Hughson.
He was a gold card member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and the California Team Ropers Association. He was active as a team roper until he retired from roping at age 83. He was known for his love of dogs and horses, especially his favorite horse "Sleepy."
He leaves behind his wife, Mary Alice Warkentin of Hughson; a daughter, Sandra Gaff of Osceola, Ind.; a stepson, David Griffith of Anacortes, Wash.; a stepdaughter, Donna Dellinger of Texas; a sister, Lucille Willems of Reedley; a brother Jack Hiebert of Fresno; and 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by first wife Hazel and daughters Shirley Nelson and Beverly Warkentin.
Remembrances may be sent to Gideons International or to a charity of choice.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /September 17, 2008
