His father was a jurist and served as the chief executive of the association of ceramic industry.

[3] Warnke, a lawyer by profession, was a member of the Christian Social Union.

He served as a cabinet member in the governments led by the Prime Minister Helmut Kohl between 1982 and 1991.

[1] Lastly he was reappointed minister of economic cooperation in a cabinet reshuffle in April 1989.

[2][5] A funeral service for him was held in St. Andrew's Church in Selb with the attendance of German politicians and family members.