Isla Ruth Warnke

Isla Ruth Warnke, the infant daughter of Justin and Courtney Warnke, of Ankeny, IA, passed away on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines surrounded by her family.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Coon Rapids with Fr. Brian Feller as Celebrant assisted by Deacon Louis Meiners.   Lector for the Mass will be Kris Gross.  Gift Bearers will be her aunts Robyn DeSart, Holly Anderson, and Michaela Davis and her uncle Kurt Warnke.  Casket bearers will be Isla’s parents and grandparents.  Burial will be in Union Township Cemetery near Coon Rapids.

Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids after 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday where there will be a Christian Wake Service held at 6:30 P.M.  The casket will be moved to the church at 9:30 A.M. where visitation will be held until 10:15 A.M.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Isla’s name.  Memorials may be left at the funeral home, at the church, or mailed to:  Availa Bank - Isla Warnke Memorial Fund  423 Main St., Coon Rapids, Iowa  50058.

On September 18, 2018 in Des Moines, IA, Isla Ruth Warnke was born to proud parents, Justin and Courtney (Davis) Warnke.  To the surprise of many, she was 10 pounds 10.2 ounces and 23 inches at birth.  From the moment she made her big entrance, she continued to make even bigger impacts on everyone she met.

During her short time here, her parents and family loved watching her grow.  She was constantly growing, changing, and accomplishing new things.  It often seemed like each day brought new milestones and all her parents could do was look on in joy and wonder.

Isla had a great love of kicking.  She loved to spend time kicking in her bouncy chair.  She would kick so hard and with such glee that it was impossible to keep blankets and socks on her.

Isla also had a fondness of looking at lights, ceiling fans, and TV’s, even though her mom always told her with a little chuckle, “Babies don’t watch TV.”  Her family also jokes that Isla could see ghosts because she had a tendency not to look directly at someone’s face, but past it, and with the biggest smile.

Isla had recently found two things that were bringing her so much happiness - her voice and her thumb.  Her voice had such range.  From her high-pitched squeals that would surprise even herself, to her low “uh’s,” each sound was so beautiful and fun to hear.  She was starting to imitate sounds, and loved having conversations with Mr. Panda.

Her thumb was quickly becoming her preference over her love of pacifiers.  Isla would hold her hands out in front of her face as if she wasn’t sure they were her own, and after studying them for some time, would enjoy rubbing her hand around her face until her mouth found her tiny thumb.

Isla didn’t dislike many things, but she despised tummy time.  In the beginning, her noggin was so heavy that it was hard to keep her little legs and bottom on the ground.  However, the stronger Isla grew, the more she began to tolerate tummy time.  It amazed her parents to see how strong she was getting.  When she wasn’t using her legs for kicking, she loved putting weight on them to stand up like a big girl.  With all of her wiggles and attempts to balance herself, she resembled a hula-hooper and a bobblehead.

Isla was such a good-natured baby.  Her fussy moments were few and far between.  She loved baths and singing with Daddy and feeding and snuggling with Mommy.  Most nights, Isla was even sleeping all the way through.  When her mom would greet her with, “Good morning,” Isla’s face would erupt into a beautiful toothless grin, and she’d wiggle with so much excitement that it was as if she hadn’t known her mom had been beside her all night.

Our Isla Bear, Bobblehead, Sweety-Wheat, Girl, Baby Shark, Stinky-Wink, and Lady Isla will be eternally missed.  Her parents spent such a long time waiting for her and will spend the rest of their lives missing her.  Her parents and family had so many hopes and dreams for her and knew that she would accomplish great things.  In her short life, she touched so many and will continue to do so.

Isla is survived by her parents Justin and Courtney Warnke of Ankeny; her maternal grandparents Mike and Paula Davis of Coon Rapids; her paternal grandparents Randy and Vickie Warnke of Carroll; her great-grandfather Stoney Neumayer (Bonnie) of Carroll; three aunts: Robyn DeSart (Jamie) of Carroll, Holly Anderson (Steve) of Des Moines, Michaela Davis (Ben Grossman) of Dedham; her uncle Kurt Warnke (Amy) of Carroll; numerous great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins.

Isla was preceded in death by her great-grandparents: Henry and Mary Heman, Clayton and Ramona Davis, Ila Mae Neumayer, and Vernon and Burnita Warnke.