Petra Kay Warnick

Petra Kay Warnick
12/1/83 – 7/20/2017

Petra Kay Warnick passed to heaven on Thursday, July 20, 2017. She was from Urbandale, IA, but she lived most of her life in Lenexa, KS. She graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and then attended Kansas State University in Manhatten, KS. She later received an Associate of Arts degree from Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS. Before moving to Urbandale, IA in June of 2017, her most recent professional employment was with Ceva in Lenexa, KS. Her circle of friends and acquaintances was endless as she had several phases to her life; college, the community college, the LEGO store, her Idaho friends, her Kansas friends, her Des Moines friends; and, her many friends from the medical community.

Petra’s grit, courage, and playful sense of humor combined to make her tough and unstoppable! These qualities helped her during her recent breast cancer illness. Her positive attitude inspired all those she met during that time. After a rigorous course of medical treatment, she was successfully declared cancer free, no doubt due to those traits already mentioned.

Many of you knew her. You knew what being “Petra” was all about. Among those many things “Petra” that she loved were: kitty love, purple and pink, curly hair, pens, curiosity of the world, gardens, aquariums, dogs, intelligence, a dry sense of humor, kindness, generosity, bright nail polish, avocados, birds, and all things quirky. During her cancer treatment, she laughingly told her aunt that her obituary should simply read, “And she went.” She was exactly who she was, and she owned it every day of her life. The words, “Don’t judge!” was her mantra. Such honesty in life is rare.

Petra loved her family strongly, and she carried that love and support with her throughout her life. Her guiding rock was her beloved, Ron, whose constant love, acceptance, and companionship nurtured her more than anyone else in her adult life.

With all her heart and being, she loved her brothers, Anton and Dylan, sister, Jamie, and her most recent sisters, Christine and Laura. Petra also loved her “soul sister”, Kristen. Kristen was one of her special friendships as they endlessly talked, giggled, and shared a large piece of life in an enduring bond. She also held a special relationship with her Uncle Dave, Aunt Judy, and her cousins, Amanda and Alexa. From the beginning they were constant participants in her life and can bear witness to many of Petra’s often shenanigans.

Petra was preceded in death by her beloved cat, Pookie, a kitty cancer nurse and constant companion. In addition to those who preceded her in death were: her grandparents, James and Faye Stephens of Clarinda, IA; her uncle, James Stephens Jr. of Hamburg, IA; and, her cousin, Craig Stephens of Boulder, CO.

Those remaining to keep her memory strong are: her loving partner, Ron Hayes of Urbandale, IA; her mother and step-father, Julie and Don Gebers of Lenexa, KS; her father, Mark Warnick of Lenexa, KS; two brothers and their wives, Anton and Laura Warnick and Petra’s niece, Catalina Faye, of El Paso TX; Dylan and Christine Warnick currently in the military; and a step-sister, Jamie Gebers of Denver, CO. Other survivors include numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, Texas relatives.

It was Petra’s wish that her friends and family would monetarily support Breast Cancer Awareness and visit to help in a local humane society.

To some, Petra’s life might seem too short. However, those who were touched by her joyful existence far exceeded the quality of time she spent on earth. Her impish smile, quick intelligence, gutsy sass and off-the-wall humor were unforgettable.

Yes, of course we will miss Petra, but we will always see her in every rainbow, every kitty running after a piece of fluff, in every kind face, in every dog woof, in a bright bottle of nail polish, in everything goofy, in learning about the world. Most of all, we will forever see Petra in Ron’s eyes, and in her mother, Julie’s eyes.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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