Terry P. Warnke

WARNKE, TERRY P. Terry Porter Warnke, professional engineer and former owner of Piano Source, died after a brief but courageous battle with leukemia on Thursday, September 4, 2014. Terry was born on September 20, 1938, in Michigan City, Indiana, to Vera and Larry Warnke and grew up on a rural farm in La Porte, Indiana. He graduated salutatorian from La Porte High School in 1956. He continued his education at Purdue University and received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering. He played clarinet in the Purdue marching band throughout college, where the band played each year at the Indianapolis 500 opening ceremonies. In 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Cumerford. Following graduation, they moved to Albuquerque, NM, and Terry worked at Sandia National Laboratories. From there, he worked at Kodak in Rochester, New York on the lunar orbiter program plotting Apollo landing sites on the moon. Terry and Cheryl returned to New Mexico, where he joined Public Service Company of New Mexico in 1969 as a special project engineer. Terry was an exceptional engineer, rising to District Vice President of PNM, owning two engineering firms and traveling the world. He served as PNM's division manager in Deming, NM, from 1971 to 1974, and then moved to Farmington to oversee the construction and operation of San Juan Generating station as plant manager and then District Vice President. He continued his interest in power plant operations, managing a power plant in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Upon return to New Mexico, he worked as Manager of Electrical Engineering at Bridgers & Paxton, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience in electrical design and management. After retirement, he continued to do consulting and design for various projects with other engineers. He was a devoted member of Sandia Baptist Church and was an integral part of the electrical design and installation of the adult ministries renovation project. Unfortunately, his premature death did not allow him to see the completion of his dedication and service to this project. Terry was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Cheryl. He is survived by his three children, daughters Julie Leitner (John) and Laurie Gilliland; son, Scott Warnke (Leanne Potts), and six grandchildren, Lauren Matheny, Logan Matheny, Elizabeth Gilliland, Christopher Gilliland, Lucinda Warnke and Jackson Warnke. Other survivors include one sister, Marcia Camp (Tom - deceased); two brothers, Bruce Warnke (Marye) and Paul Warnke (Sue); nieces and nephews and numerous extended family and friends. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, September 12, 2014 at FRENCH - University, 1111 University Blvd. NE. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Sandia Baptist Church, 9429 Constitution Ave NE. A private interment will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Adult Facility Ministry Fund at Sandia Baptist Church, 9429 Constitution Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112. Please visit our online guestbook for Terry at FRENCH - University 1111 University Blvd. NE 505-843-6333