Al Warnement, 87

On Tuesday, May 7, 2019, Albert William Warnement died peacefully at home in Sturgis, contented and surrounded by loving family and friends.
“Big Al” had a strong constitution – a 25-year cancer survivor and veteran of the U.S. Army – and an even stronger faith. He was an active parishioner and volunteer at Holy Angels Catholic Church and a long-time member of Knights of Columbus (third degree) who organized the Friday fish fry and devotedly delivered KC bears to Sturgis Hospital to comfort children.
Albert found joy in John Deere tractors and John Wayne, antique cars and trucks, Johnny Cash and country music, Mom’s fruit salad, carpentry and all things mechanical. Co-owner of Craft Metal in Bronson, he transferred to Grav-i-Flo in Sturgis, where he worked until his retirement in 2001.
He was born May 27, 1931, in Plainwell, to Albert Henry and Evon Dorothy (Buhren) Warnement. He attended Plainwell schools and worked in the family business, A.H. Warnement Farm Implement. He served in Korea from 1951 to 1952, achieving the rank of sergeant, and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1957. On Dec. 26, 1955, he married Sally Jane Handy at St. Margaret’s Church in Otsego.
He is survived by his wife, Sally, and six children, Frederick Warnement (Pam Timm), Kathryn Warnement O’Kane (Patrick), Jeffery Warnement (Anne), Julie Warnement, Robert Warnement (Thalia, deceased) and Mary Warnement (James Whelton); 11 grandchildren, Ashley, Tim and Brian Warnement, Meghan, Brittany, Devon, Bryant and Michael O’Kane, Lindsay Shappell and Sophia and Nicholas Warnement; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a sibling, Paul Warnement.
Albert was preceded in death by siblings Joan Boniface, Louise Gates, Bernard Warnement, Francis Warnement and Edward Warnement.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Prayers before Mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, followed by a procession to Holy Angels Catholic Church, where the Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Albert W. Warnement will begin at 10 a.m. The Rev. Father Evelio Ramirez will officiate. A graveside committal will follow Mass at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis. Full military honors will be conferred by Capt. John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests please send memorials to Holy Angels Catholic Church (www.holyangelssturgis.org), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  (www.stjude.org) or Holy Cross Services for children (www.holycrossservices.org/programs/holy-cross-childrens-services).
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.