Ida Warner

Ida Mary Warner nee McCutchan, age 80, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2017. Formerly of Otsego, Michigan, Ida most recently resided in Oak Park, Illinois to be closer to her family. Born in Evansville, Indiana in 1937, Ida grew up in the nearby farming community of McCutchanville, named after her ancestors. As a child, Ida showed promise as a pianist, and she made her solo debut in 1953 performing Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto in g minor with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. After earning a bachelor's degree in music performance from the University of Evansville and a master's degree in education from Western Michigan University, Ida taught music in Wayland Public Schools (Michigan), where she met the love of her life and future husband, the late Jack Warner, a teacher and athletic coach. They were affectionately known to their friends as "Coachie and Cutchie." Soon after being married in 1959, Jack and Ida moved to Otsego, Michigan where they raised their family. An active member of the Otsego United Methodist Church, Ida was an elementary school teacher in Allegan, Michigan, teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade during her career. Ida was known for her soft-spoken, sweet personality and devotion to her family. In her later years, Ida thrived as an enthusiastic and proud grandmother, becoming a regular attendee at every concert, school event, and family activity. Ida is survived by her daughters Lisa (Gary) Falkenberg of Estero, Florida and Susan Warner (David Griffin) of Oak Park, Illinois. Cherished by her grandchildren Kate Falkenberg and Henry and Pearl Griffin, Ida will be remembered as a dear sister by Robert (Jeannie) McCutchan, Phyllis (Norman) Hill, and Richard McCutchan (Natalie Jung). Ida was preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert Jack Warner and her parents, Melvin and Ida (Hoffmann) McCutchan. Visitation will take place on Sunday, August 20 from 24 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown, and Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion Street, Oak Park, Illinois. Private interment will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Wayland, Michigan. Special thanks to the staff of JourneyCare Hospice in Chicago, Illinois for their compassionate care. Funeral info: 708-383-3191.