DR. RICHARD A. WARRNER, 78 ROCKFORD – Dr. Richard A. Warrner, 78, of Rockford died Saturday November 29, 2014 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born July 15, 1936 in LaSalle, IL, the son of the late Wendell and Mary Warrner. He married Miriam Meek on April 4, 1964 in Evanston, IL. He graduated from Tonica Community High School, and went to Illinois Wesleyan University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology and was elected into Phi Kappa Phi for academic excellence. He went to Northwestern Medical School, graduating in 1962 with a Doctor of Medicine, and remained a loyal Wildcats fan for the rest of his life. He served his Internship at Cook County Hospital, and was Chief Resident in Pediatrics in 1965. In 1965 and 1966, Dr. Warrner was stationed in Fort Ord, California, serving as a captain in the Army Medical Corps. He and Miriam moved to Rockford in 1969. He started his pediatric practice at the Children’s Medical Building on Myott Ave. and remained there until 1985, when he transferred his practice to the Rockford Clinic, where he stayed until his retirement in 2001. During his long career, he also served as the Chair of the Pediatrics Department at Rockford Memorial Hospital, and as a teacher of Pediatrics at the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. From 2001-2009, he served as the dismissing physician in the nursery at Rockford Memorial Hospital and was honored by the staff for his commitment to mothers and babies. Dr. Warrner served his community on many boards and committees, including Wesley Willows, the Children’s Development Center, and the Winnebago County Health Department. He was a lifelong learner and enjoyed both teaching and taking classes at the Center for Learning in Retirement. He loved to read, travel, and support the arts. Most of all, he loved his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Miriam, children, Ruth (Calvin) DeWitt of Lawrence Kansas and Tim (Theresa) Warrner of Lakewood Wisconsin, and grandchildren, Lindsey, Margaret, Grace, Calvin and Henry. A service to celebrate his life took place at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 5, at Court Street United Methodist Church, and was followed by a memorial reception at the Rockford Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in his name to the Artists Ensemble or to the Rockford Memorial Development Foundation to benefit pediatric services. The family would like to express its thanks to the staff at Hospice Care of America, and the deepest gratitude to Maggie and Mary from Wesley Willows Health Center. Arrangements completed by Fitzgerald Funeral Home Mulford Chapel.
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