Warnecke was born on July 26, 1906, in New York City, and was educated in public schools.
He then studied at the Virginia Theological Seminary and graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1929.
Between 1941 and 1949 he served as rector of St Mark's Church in Richmond, Virginia.
Whilst in Newark, Dean Warnecke also served in the department of Christian education of the diocese.
Warnecke died on February 23, 1977, in Boca Raton, Florida.