Herty Ida Warnholtz

Herty I. Warnholtz nie Stuetzel

Herty was born in 1928 in Wiesbaden Germany to Georg and Elisabeth (Anstett) Stuetzel, the youngest of three children.

Her childhood in Germany was overshadowed by the events of World War II. She experienced that time as a civilian in a war torn country, including the death of her mother when Herty was only 14 years old, the death of her  sister the following year, and being trapped in the cellar when their apartment building was bombed flat over her head in February 1945. Herty chose to always move forward throughout her life and to not allow herself to be frozen or stopped by tragedy or difficulties.

While studying for “one year” in Chicago at the Ray-Vogue Design School, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Northwestern University, she met Werner E. Warnholtz. The sparks flew, and they married in December 1950. Together, they enjoyed long road trips, ballroom dancing at every opportunity, hiking with the TVC, attending Illinois Bar Association events, supporting the Northwestern University football team at games, welcoming friends and friends of friends and friends of their children into their home, participating in their church and community, and visiting their first grandchildren. Their house was always welcoming.

 In 1955 Herty became a proud citizen of the United States of America, a country she loved, deeply appreciated, and never took for granted.

 Werner and Herty made their home in Chicago with the exception of an adventurous 6 year interlude in Medford, Oregon from 1956 – 1962. There she was introduced to camping, wildlife, carved a beautiful garden out of a barren lot, and enjoyed the Pacific Ocean.

 In 1988, after 35 years of marriage and Werner’s death in 1986, Herty relocated to Casper, Wyoming where she enjoyed the wide open spaces and nearby Casper Mountain. She hiked extensively with the Happy Trails Hikers throughout Wyoming and the Rocky Mountains, cross country skied, snow shoed, organized get-togethers and outings, and continued to identify wildflowers and an array of wildlife, sometimes while watching sunsets in the foothills above Casper.

 Consistently during her life, Herty was an energetic, talented, and caring person. She had a love of life that she shared as a wife, mother, grandmother and friend. This was often demonstrated through cooking, knitting, dress designing, creative handiwork, and listening. Her words of wisdom are still treasured by many.

Volunteering was always a major part of Herty’s life. 

CHICAGO - First Congregational Church of Forest Glen (officer and Guild member); Forest Glen Community Club and Teen Canteen; PTAs; Columbia Club of Chicago (President); German Aid Society of Chicago (President); Women’s Auxiliary of the Germania Club of Chicago; Germania Club Choir; Technical Society of Chicago (TVC); and election judge. Herty organized a young girls group that met weekly in her home where she taught them to dance, speak German, crafts, sewing and games for her youngest daughter and friends. This group also took field trips around Chicago. Herty accomplished all of this while she assisted in her husband’s law firm and raised three daughters.

MEDFORD – Congregational Church (Sunday School teacher); March of Dimes; United Way; PTA (vice-president and room mother); Civic Music; Junior Service League; Red Cross; Polio Clinic; Brownie Leader; introduced German and sewing to neighborhood children..

CASPER – First United Methodist Church; Natrona County Public Library (30 years, Local Hero’ Award, and Volunteer of the Year); nominated for RSVP Volunteer of the Year; Meals on Wheels; Casper Geo Wives (Treasurer and Program Chair); G. Michael Perry Memorial Special Olympics Softball Tournament;  Wyoming Historical Society; Side Walkers; Casper German Stammtisch; Water Project for children at Casper College; Let’s Ride (Wyoming special horsemen); Caps for Kids’;  organized an Elder Hostel about the Oregon Trail at Casper College;  Platte River Trails; Blue Envelop; Casper Symphony Guild; Jefferson Award nominee; Natrona County Republican Women.

The past 6 years Herty enjoyed living in her lovely courtyard apartment at Mountain Plaza Assisted Living where the staff and other friends became very special to her and her family.

Herty was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother Karl Stuetzel, her sister Maria Stuetzel, and son-in-law, G. Michael Perry.

She is survived by her daughters: Margo Perry of Casper, Wyoming; Heidi (Drew) Walker of Casper, Wyoming; and Marilyn Warnholtz (Craig Sterkel) of Longmont, Colorado. Grandchildren: Hilery (William) Lindmier; Clinton (Alecia) Walker; Allison Perry; Cody (Jaz) Cardwell; Elisabeth Perry; Faith Cardwell; and Christopher Perry. Great-grandchildren: Amelia, Penny, Zoe, Wyatt, Natalie, and Sierra.

A memorial service will be held in Casper, Wyoming at the Oregon Trail State Veterans’ Cemetery chapel on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 2:00pm followed by a simple “Kaffeestunde” (German coffee hour) reception at the Tate Pumphouse along the North Platte River where we can share memories of Herty.

Herty passed away at the Kloefkorn Home at Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions in Casper on Thursday June 6, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions or to the Werner Wildlife Museum at Casper College would be appreciated.