David L. (Dudley) Warner—beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend—passed away on November 15, 2025, at the age of 74, with his family by his side.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in memory of Dave on Saturday, December 13th, at 11:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Greeley, Nebraska, with Fr. Jim Warner presiding. A luncheon to celebrate Dave’s life will be held on the same day, December 13, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Howard County Fairgrounds, St. Paul, Nebraska. Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island is entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to CurePSP, an organization focused on raising awareness, supporting families, improving care, and finding a cure for brain diseases.
Dave was born on July 20, 1951. He grew up in the small town of Greeley, Nebraska, and graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School in 1969. Dave’s deep love for his hometown remained constant throughout his life: he stayed close with his classmates, rarely missed the annual Greeley alumni weekend, and helped lead numerous community projects and events. Among his proudest accomplishments was helping install the Vietnam Memorial in Greeley, Nebraska.
Dave served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a Construction Engineer. After completing his service, he moved to Omaha, where he met his future wife, Pam McKearney. They married in 1974 and began a 41-year partnership filled with love, four children, and a shared passion for time spent with family and friends, as well as for fishing, camping, and travel.
Dave earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Nebraska–Omaha and began his teaching career at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. A lifelong learner, he later returned to the University of Nebraska to complete his master’s degree in Educational Administration. His career in education included serving as principal in Humphrey, Nebraska, and eight years with Omaha Public Schools.
After completing a second master’s degree in industrial engineering, Dave transitioned from teaching in 1987 to begin a career in the engineering field. He first worked as an industrial engineer at National Crane, and later he and Pam moved their family to Broken Bow, Nebraska, where he joined Becton Dickinson (BD). Over the next 15 years, Dave held a variety of roles in engineering, production, and continuous improvement. He retired from BD in 2006 after serving as Plant Manager of the company’s Franklin, Wisconsin, facility.
Dave was a master carpenter, known for his meticulous craftsmanship and relentless drive for perfection. Every home he and Pam owned eventually bore his touch—whether it was an addition, a screened porch, or a newly finished basement. In retirement, he spent countless hours in his woodshop, building furniture and crafting intricate bowls on his woodturning lathe.
He collected friends the way some people collect souvenirs, and he never hesitated to pull new ones into the fold. Bringing people together was his true superpower. Dave’s sense of humor was legendary; he delighted in playing practical jokes on friends, students, and family alike. He was often asked to MC events, and his enormous trove of jokes—some groan-worthy, all memorable—will keep his family laughing for years to come.
Dave is survived by his four children, Cara Aldridge (Michael), Curt Warner (Brandi), Cathy Luce (Andrew), and Craig Warner, his sister Kate Bradigan (Terry), and his brothers Joe Warner (Joy) and Fr. Jim Warner. He was Grandpa Dave to 12 grandchildren: Conner, Ben, Evan, and Emily Aldridge, Ashley, Jenna, and Sage Warner, Maggie, Charlie, and Amelia Luce, and Alanna and Abram Warner. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Pam McKearney Warner, his parents, Raymond Warner and Winnie Hartman Warner, his sisters, Pat Warner Swanson and Marilyn Warner, and his brother, Jerome Warner.
The Warner family extends their deepest gratitude to the many dedicated teams, including friends, who supported Dave in his final year of life. Thank you to Gentle Hands Home Care for their in-home care and companionship. Thank you to Brookfield Park for their empathy, patience, and unwavering support. Thank you to Edgewood Columbus Memory Care and Aseracare Hospice for your guidance and compassionate care.
