ROBERT HENRY WARKENTIN
April 24, 1936 - April 30, 2022
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Bob Warkentin. He died on April 30, 2022 from Glioblastoma-brain cancer. He was born April 24, 1936 to John and Helen Warkentin. He was the youngest of four children. He was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather who loved his family.
He loved playing football for the BHS Drillers and BC Renegades. He was voted Most Valuable Player on both teams. He was elected to the BHS football hall of fame in 2009. “Once a Driller, always a Driller”. He had 2 daughters, Pam and Lori, who he coached in softball for 14 years. Both girls went to North High. Lori played volleyball, basketball, and softball. Softball got her a full ride scholarship to UCLA. Pam was a cheerleader and was elected formal queen.
He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Forsberg, in August of 1955 at St. John's Lutheran Church. Bob worked for Shell Oil Co. for 43 years and loved it. Bob loved building things. He built 2 beautiful houses and lots of furniture. He even remodeled other people's homes.
He had a huge shop at his home where he would work with the grandchildren on various projects. He and Carol loved traveling, especially to Mt. Rushmore, Dollywood, New Hampshire (where Carol was born), Pismo Beach, and Lake Tahoe. He had 4 grandchildren: Matt Silvius, Brian Schoene, Amanda Schoene, and Daniel Schoene. All three of the Schoene's participated in Driller sports. Brian had a wrestling scholarship to Stanford but ended up going to CSUB where he graduated with an electrical engineering degree. Amanda had a volleyball scholarship to Nebraska and Daniel a football scholarship to UNLV. Up until 2 years ago, Bob and Carol went to all of the Driller football games and had season tickets to the Renegade games. Bob and Matt would go on golf cart rides around the neighborhood, especially to look at holiday lights. Bob loved his Friday coffee breakfast at Pappy's Coffee Shop with Kenny Sarver, Frankie Camacho, Gene Tolemei, and Carlos Fugate. He loved going to Sunday service at St. John's Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers John, and Jack, and sister Helen, mother-in-law Alyce Forsberg, and his son-in-law Steve Silvius.
He is survived by his wife Carol, daughters Pam Silvius and Lori Schoene, sonin-law Craig Schoene, grandsons Brian Schoene and his wife Taylor Schoene, Matt Silvius, Daniel Schoene and his wife Hannah Schoene, granddaughter Amanda Schoene, and 2 great-grandchildren Nathan and Ellie Schoene.
We want to thank Hoffmann Hospice for their incredible care of Bob at assisted living (Bryan Payton LVN), the Hoffmann Home and their amazing staff (Laura Dobson and ALL staff), and his last two weeks at home with Esmerelda LVN, Tara RN, and the Health Aids: Maria and Anayelia, Mona and her partner. Social workers, Chaplin and all other staff.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Greenlawn Cemetery on River Blvd with Pastor Eric Van Scharrel of St. John's Lutheran officiating. Graveside service to follow. Reception will be after the service at Hodel's from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hoffmann Hospice, 4401 Buena Vista Road, Bakersfield, CA 93311.