Doctor Varnau was born in Port Clinton, OH. She became an RN after high school and entered the U.S. Air Force. Her military career as a Nurse included a tour of duty in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. She then left the Air Force and attended medical school in Athens, OH, and then returned to active duty for an OB/GYN residency at Wright-Patterson AFB and Wright State University in Dayton, OH. After residency she was stationed in Japan; Germany; Las Vegas, NV; Wichita, KS; and Belleville, IL. She retired as a Colonel after 35+ years of service, moved to Georgetown, OH, December 2003, and started providing OB/GYN care to the local community in January 2004.

Dr. Varnau has keen interests in hydroponic and aquaponic gardening, and crochets every spare minute available.

Dr. Varnau was elected Coroner of Brown County, Ohio, for a four-year term, starting January 7, 2013.