Janice Warnke Profile Photo
Janice

Janice Warnke

d. April 17, 2021

Minneapolis, MN

JANICE HEULE WARNKE

Age 60 of Mpls, on April 17th, 2021, our beloved Janice passed away peacefully, with her immediate family present. She was born Janice Lynn Heule in Duluth MN to John ‘Jack’, and Sally Heule on December 16th 1960. The family eventually moved to Minnetonka where she grew up. She is survived by her husband Steve, daughter Annie, her parents, sister Karen Hall, brother Thomas (Lisa), niece Marie Enzaldo (Robert), along with two nephews Joseph Hall (Katie), and John Heule (Erin) along with seven grand nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Hopkins Lindbergh highschool, she earned a BA degree in Social Sciences with specialization in Human Resources from St. Thomas University in 1983. While attending, she  became a member of SHRM, Little Sisters, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Alpha Xi Delta. In 2012 she earned a Master's degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Public Policy on Work, Leadership, and Non-Profit Management. She was certified as a Senior Certified Professional and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Her 35 year career in Human Resources included many roles, starting with her entry level work for IBM working in Minneapolis and New Jersey. Her first major role was around 1995 where she took a role with MSL/Celestica, a contract manufacturing entity. She hired over 800 people during her time there, and knew most of them on a first name basis. She went from recruiting in steps to the eventual plant HR manager. Just before 2010, when Celestica decided to shut down it’s US operations and move to Canada, she worked vigorously to ensure all of the workers were taken care of before the plant closed and worked with the State to establish a displaced workers program following it’s close. She and two others locked the door and turned off the lights. After she received her masters degree she worked as an assistant campaign manager and recruiter for a 2013 Minneapolis mayoral campaign. While consulting for a Somali mental health care provider alongside her sister however, her desire to work in the non-health service industry was further fueled. Following a period of working back in the Manufacturing world as the Minneapolis Plant HR Manager for Greatbatch/Integer, she started Workforce strategies LLC and provided HR Consulting work in the public health sector. This led her to her final role as the Chief Human Resources Officer for Headway Emotional Health Services, a non-profit mental health provider to youth and their communities.

Janice has enjoyed working with and helping people, and was always driven by her passion for youth leadership development. She was a member of the Minneapolis Jaycees starting in 1989, winning director awards in 1990/91. Eventually she moved into the Minneapolis Jaycees Charitable foundation where she served as president from 1993-1995, She helped develop the Bolder Options, and Elpis Enterprises, which are still in operation today, and provide development and mentoring for at risk youths. She was a volunteer Mediator for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in dispute resolution since 2012. She served as a Troop Leader for Troop 11055 of the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valley from 2002-2012. She was also a Senior Program Advisor for Prosperity Ready, an organization working to develop the vast potential of immigrants to overcome our talent shortage crisis.

In her personal life, Janice held numerous close friendships across all eras of her life, remembered by her friends as a quick wit and always there with care, wisdom, advice, and a glass of wine to share. She met her Husband Steve in 1984 where they became good friends, and shared the music social scene of that period. After she left and then moved back from New Jersey, they remet at the same friends wedding who had introduced them in 84’. Janice and Steve were married in September of 1994, and Annie was born in 1997. They made their home in the Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis. To Annie, she became both a strong role model, an empathetic guide, and above all best friend. She served as the Parent Liaison for the Minnehaha Academy Players during the 4 years Annie acted in their productions. She enjoyed collecting mid century decor for her 56’ Rambler, long weekends at Crooked Lake, and sitting outside in the yard at the end of the day, a gin & tonic in hand, greeting neighbors as they passed by along with her husband Steve and puppy Maisie.

A private family event will be held through Bradshaw Funeral Homes with a public Celebration of Life and planting of a Memorial Tree to follow later in the summer. Details to follow on Janice’s CaringBridge.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Janice Warnke, please visit our flower store.

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