Because I've scanned hundreds of collections, I've digitally preserved thousands of historical pictures and documents that people later lost track of, or accidentally threw away.
Occasionally I get people who have bad memories and don't take care of their old stuff will come back to me to say I did not return their things.

Anyone who has paid even the slightest attention to my web pages since 1996 can tell that I'm not the problem, but the owners of their family pictures and history end up being their own worst enemy because of their carelessness and lack of organization - they lost their pix & history...or they gave them to another relative, which they forgot...or someone in the family stashed them away and forgot where - I could write a book on the ways people lost their own pix.
Of course they never thank me when I can give them the scans of their pix and history on a DVD - after they lost their originals.

Having worked on Manning family historical collections for 40 years, I've learned of dozens of family collections that were simply thrown away by the next generations...EVEN after I made contact with some of them, asking them to let me go through that old history before they start throwing and dividing up stuff among family members.

This first image below is a perfect example of how thorough I am and the detailed work I do to preserve our history. While going through Amanda Lamp's night school papers I noticed a letter head for Herman Lamp's purebred business.

Amanda used some of Herman's blank pages to write down recipes. There were other recipes written down on plain paper, index cards, and scrap paper, but if I had not taken the time to look at each piece of paper I would not have found this letter head.

Next you see the old suitcase that Ann (Voge) found in the attic of her dad's house. I scanned the first item on top that Ann found in a safe. I remember Gerhardt telling me about it and wanted to make sure I scanned it because I had never seen this type of FFA MHS school letter.

I've been busy with various projects on the farm but will soon get back to finish scanning the Kuhl scrapbook.

What I'm really looking for right now are military pictures of the Manning Addisons who served. So if you are an Addison relative/descendant and have military pictures, please e-mail me.

Every couple of months or so I spend an hour or more searching on Bing.com for obituaries with Manning listed as point of origin.
This time I found 3 more obituaries that have Manning connections.
For 2 of them (Janning, Larson) they have loose Manning connections but close enough to have them in my database in case I run into more of those family names that connect to Manning more directly.
I added all 3 obituaries to my Memorial web page linked on the left.

For the other obituary, (John Burton Schrum) he has all kinds of Manning connections and is a WWII Veteran who I'm looking for more pictures and information about his service and ALSO his family history - Schrum & Addison...so if anyone has more pictures and information, please help out. He had several siblings so I'm hoping that nephews and nieces will have some more military pictures of Burton that were shared between the families.

JOHN BURTON SCHRUM
John Burton "Burt" Schrum, beloved son of William and Ruby (Addison) Schrum, was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on June 2, 1918, and peacefully passed away at the Andbe Home in Norton on November 14, 2018, at the age of 100.

Burt grew up in Manning, Iowa, and graduated from the Manning High School in 1936. On September 21, 1939, Burt married the love of his life Betty Laverty in Manning, Iowa. Burt and Betty moved several times before making their home in Norton, Kansas, in 1955. He also proudly served in the U.S. Navy from July 11, 1944, till February 2, 1946.

Burt was a member of the United Methodist Church, American Legion, and Lions Club. He even coached numerous baseball teams, including the Norton American Legion Baseball group. One of his favorite things to do was to watch any sport. His greatest love was his family, especially his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Survivors include: five children, Burton, and wife, Lois Schrum, Tucson, Arizona; Steven Schrum, Norton, Kansas; William, and wife, Marilyn Schrum, Norton, Kansas; Barbara, and husband, Michel Magers, Greeley, Colorado; Deborah, and husband, Craig Chizek, Rose Hill, Kansas; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; several other relatives and friends.

Burt was preceded in death by his parents, wife, four brothers, Arthur, Wayne, Lyle "Junior", and Warren Schrum, and one sister, Marjorie Schrum.

INURNMENT - A private family inurnment will take place at a later date.
MEMORIALS - American Legion Baseball Program.

The Addison family is another family I have very little information and pictures, so any help with pictures and information would be greatly appreciated.

Fern's son, Mick Addison, served in the Army. He also attended school at Manning. Mick is the only Addison obituary I have, so anyone with other Addison and Manning connected obituaries - please come forward.
You can check to see which obituaries I have on my Memorial web page...

I know many people give their pix and information to those ancestry websites and post them on social media sites - which is fine, but I doubt you are working on the publication of a Manning Veterans' book or preserving Manning's history, so if you want your old pix and Manning connected information preserved in the Manning Historical Preservation Database I'm building and in the history books I work on - then please get in contact with me.

Believing in My Freedom of Speech, I have added more of my perspective at the end of this feature.

The Family Circle
Paper read by Jacob Billing, at the first Billing family Reunion held at the Sidney Fair Ground, Sidney, Ohio, on Sunday August 19, 1928.

Following the custom of other families the Billing relatives decided to meet as a family circle for the first time this afternoon here at this beautiful Fair Ground and refresh the memories of days long past and gone and to assure each the other of his high esteem and continued friendship for the years that yet may lie before us.

The family is the unit of civilization. Not only is it the unit of civilization but it is the test of civilization for the stability and integrity of any nation or race is in direct proportion to the sanctity and coherence of its family group. This is a strong statement, but is verified by the testimony of all experience, observation and history. This then being true, the cultivation, development, and elevation of the family ideal should be paramount and have the right of way, always consuming our best thoughts and noblest energies. A broken family is a diseased cell in the organism of society. To prevent and heal these breaks is the only hope of a loftier race. To the task of conducting and disciplining in righteousness and justice the affairs of the family, every parent who has the welfare of the state at heart, as well as his own happiness and well-being, will unstintingly give of his best efforts. The peril of the family is the peril of the nation. Remove family perils, and, at once, national perils are vanquished. Maintain the integrity and sacredness of the family idea, and the nation is safe.

Not only does the family reunion satisfy the normal, natural, craving for fellowship of one's own, but it arouses pride in one's ancestry, and pride in one's ancestry is no mean asset. It has saved many a man from dishonor and ruin. He would not yield to temptation because it would bring a blot on his family name. Normally man is proud of his blood and name and delights to keep them unsullied. Frequently coming into contact with the whole family will make him more interested and careful to perpetuate the good name and standing of his people. To see his own people, by scores, and perhaps, by hundreds, and coming in contact with the best men and women of the family name has a very wholesome influence for good upon all, and no one should fail to avail himself of the opportunity to be present at his family reunion. By all means, make it possible for the young to attend. It will arouse in them a desire to "make good" as they realize the toils and privations of the older ones who have made it possible to have and enjoy such delightful occasion.

As father and grandfather recount the experiences of Pioneer life and the difficulties of "getting a start," in life, appreciation, and pride will swell the bosoms of the younger listeners, causing many mental resolutions to "go and do likewise" and make a worthy place for themselves in the world. Many silent observations and comparisons are made with the result that more strenuous and more efficient efforts are decided upon for the largest success in life.

And then what memories these family reunions revive. They are rich in memories to unseal life's secret springs. Memories of the old home. Memories of father and mother, perhaps, long gone to their eternal reward. Memories of play-days with brothers and sisters who also have passed to "that borne from whence no traveler e'er returns," and the tears lay very shallow. There are memories of joys and sorrows, but after all, valuable, as a rich contribution to aid in life's tasks and life's pleasures.

And then, somehow, we cannot help but think that the homeowner can more easily measure up to that great word - the one word since the Great War - the word Americanism. That word came from the crucible of strife, from the white heat of battle, and from the shock of opposing armies. It is the most vital word at present in the English language. In it are crystallized the hopes and faith and unselfish love of mankind. It stands for the support of right against wrong, of good against evil, for justice against injuries. It stands for all of this and much more. It is the one word that expresses all that is good and fine that is in the heart and mind of America, and, somehow, it does seem that a man who owns a part, be it ever so small and humble, who really owns a part of this great American soil, who can call a part of it "his very own", and feel that a part of it is his, must ever remain a more intelligent, interested, and law abiding citizen than he would have been without a knowledge of that ownership. The family reunion will foster and develop all this fine home-owning sentiment which is so necessary to produce the citizen who can in every way qualify as a thorough American.

Release canceled August 10, 2019 "While Universal Pictures had already paused the marketing campaign for The Hunt, after thoughtful consideration, the studio has decided to cancel our plans to release the film. We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film."

These US soldiers shown below and hundreds of thousands more died for OUR FREEDOMS which gives people like Race the ability to kneel during the National Anthem.
If he were a citizen of many other regimes around the world throughout history and even today (look at Cuba, China, Russia, Venezuela, etc) he would probably "disappear" for kneeling/protesting in those other countries.
Race and so many others have ABSOLUTELY NO clue as to how good they have it here in the United States of America!!!
OR how precious and unique the United States of America is.

What would the world look like today if the United States of America never existed?
It can't be proven because we can't go back in time and change it to NO United States...
But here is a different perspective than the constant talking points we are bombarded with every day.

No America - No US Civil War - the war that ended slavery.
No America - No Abraham Lincoln and the hundreds of thousands of Caucasian men in the North who fought and died to save the Union and free the slaves.
Yes, other ethnicities fought for the North but take away the majority white men who fought and died and the North would have lost.
Over 330,000 Caucasians died and many hundreds of thousands more served and were wounded by fighting for the North.
Over 60 Civil War Veterans moved to Manning after that war. One of Manning's family ancestors died as a prisoner at Andersonville.

No American Civil War - Slavery would have continued throughout the world as an accepted way of life - for how long, no way to know but once the rest of the world saw how the US ended slavery, other peoples and countries also fought back against the scourge of slavery (not just black slavery, but all slavery).

No America - WWI & WWII, etc???
While other countries fought against the tyranny of Nazism, Imperialism, Communism, Socialism, I really wonder if the outcome would have been a lot different if there were no United States of America.
Again, while people of all races in the US fought and died during the 2 world wars, since the US was an 80% majority Caucasian nation the vast majority who served were white.
There would probably be a lot more people speaking German or Japanese today if it weren't for the USA - more people under the tyrannical rule of communism. Various estimates show that 94,000,000 deaths through executions, man-made hunger, famine, war, deportations, and forced labor occurred under communist governments.

What about dictatorships? Anyone remember the "Butcher of Uganda" Idi Amin Dada? He was "president" from 1971-79. There is no way to tell for sure but estimates that his rule caused the deaths of 100,000 to 500,000 of his citizens.
Other notorious African dictators who caused the deaths of tens of thousands more people in their countries: Charles Taylor, Liberia; Paul Biya, Cameroon; Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe; Sani Abachi, Nigeria; Sekou Toure, Guinea; Macias Nguema, Guinea; Siad Barre, Somalia; Omar Al-bashir, Sudan; Hissene Habre, Libya

None of these men were/are Caucasian, so the white race is not the only one that has evil people.

Now I've only shown some of the military aspects of our history - I could go on and on about the sacrifices the Pioneers of this country who NOT ONLY fought and died for our FREEDOMS, but who were the tens of millions before us that built this country into the powerhouse for good it is today. A nation for good that was able to defeat endless evils, create the "Bread Basket of the World," a nation of great industry and technology, and even more importantly a nation of Judeo-Christian beliefs - a nation where people from all over the world are willing to risk their lives to get her, then break our laws to enter and stay here.
Sadly they do not stop to think that the reason many of them are fleeing their native land is because of the breakdown of the rule of law or dictatorial rule in their countries, so when they enter the US illegally, they are only condemning the US to the same demise when they break our laws.

So IF the US is so bad why do so many people from around the world try to come here???

The other sad truth about so many of the younger generation citizens of the US is they have absolutely NO clue what sacrifice, honor, family, patriotism, and HARD WORK is.
I've shown thousands of pictures from our Pioneer past. Anyone who thinks they have it tough today needs to look at all of those pictures and learn more about their history.
Unfortunately there are very few people living today who these young people and complainers can talk to about the World Wars, Great Depression, and Dust Bowl days.

This is where I feel so "privileged" and blessed to have been able to talk to hundreds of those members of the Greatest Generation and Pioneers of our community.
They are the ones who gave me and all of the citizens of Manning the great Freedoms, Privileges, and wonderful life we can choose to live in or reject.

I prefer to write about and show the good we are as US citizens.
If you don't like it here - then you have the RIGHT & Freedom to LEAVE.

Do you recognize the "Iron Curtain" and the Berlin Wall? Thousands of Eastern Europeans tried to escape from the Socialist/Communist rule after WWII - many of them died in their attempts!!!
That wall was a WALL to keep people in!!!
The communist dictators of the Eastern European countries (backed by the Soviet Union leaders in Russia) made SLAVES out of all their people.

Who fought to free those people who were enslaved? The United States of America - defeating the Soviet Union through the Cold War.

Russia occupied and then claimed territory through the satellite states of the USSR after WWII
The USA provided the Berlin Airlift, the Marshall Plan, defended Western Europe, helped rebuild Japan!!!

I don't claim to be an expert worldly historian...just an amateur local historian, BUT I have personally observed historical aspects of my ancestry and WWII that tie to our local history.

In 1997, I had the honor to see some of the existing Berlin wall that was not torn down; but preserved as a reminder of our past and what could happen again.

My cousin, Jon, and I went to Germany to trace our ancestors. Here are some pictures I took and a very amazing story of one of my distant Kusel cousins.

The reason why we couldn't connect our families is because of all of the destruction during WWII and then the communist Soviet Union destruction of church records, cemeteries, and all types of historical information in what became Eastern Germany.

On February 13 to 23, 1997, my cousin and I traveled to Germany to trace back our family names.

We flew into Berlin on Friday and headed to Lenzen where my great-great-grandfather & mother Kusel came from. There we met with Peter Kusel and his family who live in Baekern which is about 2 miles from Lenzen.

Guess who Peter, Jutta, and their family love? The people of the United States of American and especially the men and women of the US military who defeated the evil regimes that destroyed much of Germany & Europe.

Fleeing East Germany to the west after WWII
In 1952 Peter and his family fled from here across the Elbe river to West Germany but before they left they buried silverware, linens, and documents in their barn with the hopes that if they were able to return someday they could prove this was their property...never dreaming at the time that it would take 40 years before they could return to their home and farmland.

What an amazing idea to bury their valuables and official documents so they could then prove someday they were the rightful owners of their farm land.

Peter's farm is about a mile from the Elbe river so each winter (when the leaves had fallen off the trees) they would come to the river on the West side and look through binoculars to see their farm.

In 1990 Peter drove his John Deere tractor for 10 hours from the farm they rented in West Germany to the Elbe river to cross on the ferry to get to his farm.

On the East side of the Elbe river there was a guard tower which monitored the river near their farm.

Peter was able to reclaim most of their property except for one farm that they couldn't prove was theirs.

The communists did everything they could to destroy records, even church records and cemeteries. Here you see Peter Kusel showing us one of the cemeteries where his ancestors were buried.

Peter said that some of the cemeteries deeper in the forest were not discovered and are still there, intact.

Our last stop was the museum in Berlin. It was really eye-opening! Especially in the ways the people of East Germany tried to escape to West Germany.
Here are some pictures with explanations that show how ingenious they were in their attempts to escape their own homes and towns - to the Freedoms of the West.

Remember this:
U.S.S.R. - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Nazi Socialist Party
Some people want to us to believe there is a big difference between Socialism and Communism - don't be fooled.

I prefer to work on Manning's history to preserve it and document the facts about our past, but when the ancestral past of our community is attacked, with many US citizens and politicians calling our way of life racist and deplorable, then I guess it is time to stand up for what I believe in.

Graveside Service Manning Cemetery Saturday, August 10, 2019 11:00 AM Manning, Iowa.

Charles "Tub" F. Ramsey, age 72, of Manning, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at Veteran's Hospital in Des Moines.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 10, 2019, at the Manning Cemetery with Rev. David Rauch officiating. Military honors will be given by the Manning American Legion and VFW. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Born on March 1, 1947, in Manning, Iowa, he was the son of John L. and Edna (Pfannkuch) Ramsey. Tub, as he was known to most, grew up in Manning and graduated from Manning High School in 1966. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served four years on the USS Piedmont and the USS Sterett.

Upon his honorable discharge in 1970 he moved back to Manning and worked for Manning Ag Center until moving to Omaha where he worked for Earl May in Council Bluffs. Tub then lived in San Diego, California, for three years where he worked in an office supply company and then moved back to Omaha and worked for Raiders Office Supply until his retirement. He moved back to Manning in 2007 and did maintenance work at the Terrace Apartments where he lived. Chuck enjoyed fishing, cooking and traveling. Tub will be truly missed by his family, especially his nieces and nephews, who he dearly loved.

Tub is survived three brothers: Keith Pfannkuch (Marilyn) of Manning, John Ramsey, Jr. (Lois) of Manning, and Lynn Dean Ramsey (Kathy) of Templeton; several nieces, nephews, other extended family and many goods friends. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Edna Ramsey. He is also preceded in death by his good friend Tom Kohoutek and his beloved dog Troy.

1966 former students: Teri Apicelli, Linda Betts, Joyce Determan, Shirley Espenhover, Kathleen Fischer, Leslie Frahm, Linda Galvin, Frank Golwitzer, Mary Ann Golwitzer, David Hass, Jerry Hilsabeck, Larry Hilsabeck, Donna Hinz, Robert Holdsworth, Jr., Dennis Janning, Ivan Joens, Jr., Janice Knueven, Norman Luckow, David Maasen, Dale McDonald, Marvin Mersman, Jolene Plahn, Duane Riesselman, Karen Segebart, Robert Shafer, Diana Snyder, Charlene Steckelberg, Georgia Steffes, Jimmie Tauber, Mark Thetford, David Turner, Dennis Vaudt, Verna Vehrs, Jeffrey Wegner, Richard Weifenbach, Sherry Weifenbach, Cathleen Weiss

I often write about the interconnections found in family collections of pictures and how people interact with so very many of the citizens of a community.
If Shirley had not taught at that country school then the Sander family would not have attended her wedding and have a picture of the reception...to where 71 years later it was found in Donna's family collection and then sent to me.

As a teacher, Shirley interacted with a lot of students and their parents...here are pictures of some of them.
See if you knew/know who they are and who their children would be today.

So the reason why I'm showing this letter of thank you is that it gives a shining impression of the people of Manning and how they treat total strangers who visit here.

At the beginning of a new year I start removing the older links on the "What's New in 2019" web page to make room for the next year's new feature stories.
Many of you may already know this but many visitors do not - so I wanted to bring this to everyone's attention again.
Thanks,
Dave

1972 former students: Kaylyn Betterton, Randy Borkowski, Melissa Eschenbacher, Kaelyn Farrell, Colleen Green, Cheryl Hansen, Kurt Hass, Norman Heithoff, Mary Kay Holst, Peggy Hupp, Michael Joens, Robin Knapp, Jim Kunkel, Sharlene Mathisen, Barbara McKinley, Randal Mohr, Madonna Nepple, David Nissen, Allan Otto, Michael Pearson, Laurel Porsch, David Prebeck, Donna Reinke, Jeff Rinehart, Donna Schwaller, Ann Weiskircher, James Weiss, Douglas Wiese, James Wittrock, Jerome Wuebker, John Zekan

Growing up and living in a small community generally means you are related to a lot of people, and over multiple generations you probably don't realize how many citizens around you are "shirt tail" cousins.
Since Diana is my relation I knew I would have quite a few pictures and information so I thought I would take her tree back in time to see how many Manning names she ends up being connected to.
I won't go way down into the sub branches with pictures and names but mostly stay with the older generations.
I think I have the connections correct, but if you see some errors please let me know.

I highlighted 2 Hansens above in yellow.
August Hansen married Emma Kusel...of all the people I have pictures of in my database, I don't have any of Emma Kusel.

After viewing this feature, the great-granddaughter of Emma Hansen e-mailed me about having Emma's signature, so I asked her to send me a picture of the signature that was on the back of a dresser handed down in the family.

August & Emma were the great-grandparents of Diana.
Emma was the daughter of William & Sophia (Grube) Kusel.

I highlighted 2 of the children above in yellow.
Friedrich Hansen married my mother's great aunt, Trincke Ehrichs, so their children would be related to me on both the Hansen & Ehrichs side.
Their children would be related to Diana on the Hansen side.

Of course Peter Hansen and Ida Suhr who are highlighted in yellow are shown at the beginning of this feature.

Now we go into the Meyers part of the family - Anna Hansen married Henry Meyers

As a side note: I don't have any other Fagan or Sibbel pictures to show because those families are outside of Manning. I work on Manning and Manning connected/area collections, but just don't have time to go much outside the Manning area for historical preservation.
I'm having a hard enough time getting all of the Manning projects scanned and worked on.

If anyone is related to or a descendant of the Sibbel, Meyers, Hansen, Suhr, Petersen, Kusel, Grau, Kleespies, Kelsey, etc families and can help with more pictures and information and obituaries - please contact me.
Thanks,
Dave Kusel

That is a tremendous accomplishment and it is all due to the generosity of our community members,

Manning Regional Healthcare Center vendors and business partners, the Foundation board members,

MRHC staff members, golf participants, and donors.

Thank you for making the 2019 Golf Classic a success!

There are PICTURES posted on the West Central Iowa Healthcare Foundation Facebook page. We tried to capture some of day's moments to share with everyone. 'Like' the page and you can view the photos - ENJOY!

Handing out awards and prizes is the highlight of the day, so Thank You to this group

for their Cash Donations, Pin Prizes, Flight Prizes, Chipping Contest Prizes, Raffle Prizes & Silent Auction Prizes.

Wild Rose Casino Motor Inn Larry Hagedorn The Observer

Vision Care Clinic Veterinary Associates Stone Printing Graphic Edge

Carroll Broadcasting Graham Tire Holmes Murphy Denny Garvis

West Central Iowa Rural Water Molly's / Molly Muhr Jet Express Casey's General Store

Manning Regional Healthcare Center Linn Block Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Blank Park Zoo Foundation Servi-Share (Iowa Hospital Association) Northwestern Mutual Insurance / Jeanne Kerkhoff

It was a hot, humid day on the golf course last Friday, but it didn't slow down the fun!

� We had 4 MRHC vendors join us in the morning: Brown's Medical Imaging, Hauge Associates, KDSN and *Seim Johnson.

� In the afternoon, teams from *First National Bank, *Holmes Murphy, *Puck Enterprises, *MRHC, Manning Municipal Utilities, AGP, State Farm, Home Mutual Insurance, Soll's Service, Dr. Josh & Kellee Smith, and Virginia Rasmussen participated. (*sponsors)

� Siouxland Urology and Emerge Marketing Solutions sponsored holes, and Senior Life Solutions sponsored the morning and afternoon refreshments.

Tournament Results are as follows:

1^st Flight / 1^st Place: State Farm Insurance - 54

1^st Flight / 2^nd Place: Home Mutual Insurance - 57

2^nd Flight / 1^st Place: Virginia Rasmussen - 61

2^nd Flight / 2^nd Place: AGP - 66

� Closest to the Pin Winner - women: Chris Wiese (Golf Umbrella donated by Graphic Edge)

� Closest to the Pin Winner - men: Scott Dreier (Sunglasses and Hat donated by Vision Care Clinic)

� Longest Putt: Jeremy Carroll (putter)

We'd like to thank all these sponsors and teams for spending the day with us!

Thank you to everyone who purchased Raffle Tickets� The boxes were very full when we did the drawing!

The winners are:

� Omaha Zoo, Casey's Card, Giant Jenga - Doug Greving

� ISU Football Tickets, Hickory Park - Susie Schilling's (WCIHF Board Member) daughter

� Blank Park Zoo, Casey's Card, Giant Jenga - Jamie Blum

� Car Detailing, Oil Change Package - Dr. McLaws

� $200 Cash - LeeAnn Christensen

Thank you to our online bidders! It was fun to see the bids roll in for the baskets throughout the auction.

Final results for the Silent Auction on Friday at 5pm were the following high bidders:

� Basket #1 - Pioneer Woman slow cooker package - Brian Lage

� Basket #2 - Dog Food package - Denise Doyel

� Basket #3 - Wine/Wine Glasses package - Laurie Bruck

� Basket #4 - Wild Rose Casino Package - Larry Hagedorn

� Basket #5 - The Observer package - Virginia Rasmussen

� Basket #6 - Trail Cam package - Shelli Lorenzen

� Basket #7 - Olde is Golde package - Virginia Rasmussen

The Chipping Contest proved to be a Pretty Big Challenge! Those who participated got entered into a drawing.

Chipping Contest Winners were:

� Adventureland Tickets: Rick from Holmes Murphy

� UNI Football Tickets: Austin Haubrich

� For making 2 Shots into the Heart: Austin Haubrich

The day was a success, and no one got heat stroke! J The West Central Iowa Healthcare Foundation sincerely appreciates those who participated and contributed to the day. The funds raised will help us continue to promote health and wellness for the residents of Manning and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is a partner to Manning Regional Healthcare Center in providing the best possible care to our friends and neighbors!

Thank you for supporting WCIHF!

The IKM-Manning Fine Arts Boosters are again offering families in our district the chance to purchase their children's school supplies for a flat fee.
The Boosters will purchase the supplies, put them together for your student & then parents just have to pick up their child's supplies the night of their open house.
These school supply orders are only for kids Preschool through Middle School.
Orders may be placed by contacting Bobby Doyel at 515-971-6163 or Beth Swearingen at 712-830-7063. Orders are due by: Wednesday, August 7, 2019.
All proceeds will go back to promote the Fine Arts programs for our kids! This one stop shop is a win, win for everyone!
Here are the following School Supplies Fees per grade.

Preschool
Irwin
$22

Preschool Manning
$16

TK/K
$30

1st
$34

2nd
$24

3rd
$22

4th
$44

5th
$46

6th
$51

7th
$51

8th
$51

In an era that way too many people are constantly complaining about how other people interact with them...what they deem as negative - I admire all the great interactions I find Manning people had during their lives with so many of the other citizens around them.
Even with the limited amount of pictures I am able to feature in these tributes to people who have passed away, they give a good idea of how many lives these people touched.
Then consider the family members of that deceased person...they interacted with hundreds more people. This basically defines what a community is like and I see a tremendous amount of POSITIVE interaction and community involvement in the pictures I'm able to feature for the various tributes.

Rita Zerwas
June 7, 1928 - July 23, 2019

Rita with her daughter, Jennifer

Mass of the Christian Burial for Rita Zerwas, age 91, of Manning, will be 10:30 AM on Friday, July 26, 2019, at Sacred Heart Church in Manning with interment in Sacred Heart Cemeter in Manning.
Visitation will be from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, July 25, 2019, at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning, with a Prayer Service at 7 P.M.

Fourth Grade Teacher: Rita (Theobald) Zerwas

Back: Delores Ahrendsen, Darlene Eckholdt, Ruth Ohde, Carol Vollstedt, Patty Sextro?, Susan Paulsen, Shirley Venteicher, Priscilla Hiatt, Susan Jansen, Barbara Vollmer
Front: Judy Wegner, Linda Fisher, Janice Jensen, Marcia Martens, Marilyn Bogatzke, Berneil Antone, Marilyn Sonksen

1951 Fifth Grade Teacher: Rita (Theobald) Zerwas

Back: Miss Rita Theobald, Ron Bromert, Phil Knaack, Larry Rix, Ron Mohr, Sharon Schrum, Nancy Loftus, Donna Mundt
Middle: Mary Frahm, Linda Paulsen, Linda Warner, Shirley Beckman, Mary Jentsch, Julia Johnson, Dave Sextro
Front: Paul Hass, Joel Grundmeier, Edward Neubaum, Sandra Dammann, Linda Heithoff, Ron Vogl

Twin sisters

Rita & Theresa Theobald

Between 1948-51

Theresa Theobald - 5th, Rita Theobald Zerwas - upper elementary combination, possibly Myra Hansen

Rita Zerwas 6th grade, Theresa Theobald 5th grade (1949-50)

From the 2006 Manning Quasqui history book.

Francis J. and Rita Zerwas were married on July 8, 1952, at St. Mary's Church in Mapleton, Iowa. Francis "Frisco" James was born November 27, 1922. He was the youngest of four sons and two daughters born to Philip and Agnes (Brunnier) Zerwas of Manning. Rita Marie was born June 7, 1928, to John and Mary (Hupke) Theobald of Mapleton, Iowa.
Francis spent most of his life in Manning except when he attended Iowa State University and was a pilot in the Navy Air Corps during World War II. The Zerwas family was in the telephone business that they sold in 1967, to United Telephone Company. Francis continued to work as area manager until his retirement in 1982. He was active in community affairs: fire department (chief), Rotary Club (president), city council, county ambulance board, golf course board, director of Manning Trust and Savings Bank, charter member and director of the Development Corporation, and Sacred Heart Church council. Francis passed away February 5, 2004.
Rita grew up in Mapleton, Iowa, and attended Wayne State College in Nebraska. In 1949, she came to Manning and joined her twin sister, Theresa, teaching in the Manning School District. Rita taught full time for one year in Ida Grove and four years in Manning. She was a substitute teacher in the Manning schools for over 35 years. Rita belongs to several clubs and does volunteer work in the community. She also sang in the Sacred Heart Church choir and taught CCD for many years.
Four children were born to this union: Jennifer, Jessica, Bradley, and Joanna.
Jennifer married Robert Beck, son of Harold and Alice Beck, in Manning on October 12, 1974 and was the recipient of the Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award in 1999. They currently reside in Omaha, Nebraska, where Bob is a barber and Jennifer teaches in the Omaha Public Schools. The couple has three children. Stephanie is a teacher in Omaha. Brian is working toward his master's degree in geology at the University of Iowa. Katie is a senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in business. She was a member of the 2002 U.S. Junior Curling Team that captured the world championship in Canada.
Jessica married Gary Graner, son of Ross and Darlene Graner of Manning, on August 14, 1976. Jessica is a CPA and works at Creighton University. Gary teaches in the Omaha Public Schools and is the head basketball coach at Burke High School. They have four children. Matthew attended the University of Iowa and is now a senior at the University of Nebraska at Omaha studying engineering. Steven is a sophomore at Loyola University in Chicago. He is studying pre-med and plays on the soccer team. Michelle is a junior at Burke High School, and Allison is a sixth grader at St. Pius/St. Leo School.
Brad graduated from Iowa State with a degree in architecture and from Drake University with his masters in business. He lives in San Diego, California, where he works as project manager of construction at General Services Administration (GSA).
Joanna married Jim Wanninger son of Billy and Lue Wanninger of Manning, on May 28, 1988. Both graduated from the University of Iowa. Joanna works for Central Financial Group. Jim works at General Casualty Insurance Company. Jo and Jim have two children: Scott a sixth grader and Rachel a third grader; both attend school in Johnston, Iowa, where the family lives.

Jennifer Zerwas MHS 1972

1966 Deb Schroeder, Jessica Zerwas - (MHS 1974)

Bradley Zerwas - (MHS 1977)

Joanna Zerwas - (MHS 1984)

Children of Phillip and Agnes (Brunnier) Zerwas

1980s Sister Agnese FSPA (Alice Zerwas), LeRoy, Eugene, Sister Mary Philip (Phyllis Zerwas), Frances

Francis Zerwas - MFD 1954

Francis Zerwas - WWII

Francis Zerwas & LeRoy Zerwas - WWII

Francis Zerwas - WWII

Francis Zerwas (right) Manning Telephone Company 713 Third Street owned by the Zerwas family
Telephone switchboard installation January 1956
Kellog Switchboard & Supply Company, Des Moines, Iowa

Francis Zerwas standing upper right
Phil Zerwas kneeling lower right

Phillip Zerwas

Frances Zerwas - Save More grocery store in background (now Plastico)

Frances Zerwas, Rita Zerwas, Mildred Joens (Ben's wife), Martha Hagedorn
Bowling party in Saunder's Steak house north room

Brian Joens 34, Brett Monson, Brad Zerwas 44 - MHS vs Denison 1977

1951 Fifth Grade

Back: Miss Theresa Theobald, Dave Peters, Bernard Jones, Dennis Grimm, Barb Johnson, Jeanette Fink, Glen Ahrendsen
Middle: Beverly Dalgety, Hans "Junior" Bonnesen, Sharon Niederfank, Susan Rowedder, Sam Musfeldt, Gary Monson, Marilee White
Seated: LaVina Seals, Roger Reinke, Betty Hoffman, Larry Handlos, Sylvia Vollstedt

The Manning Exchange
linked on the left I know it is antiquated and very old fashioned, but my message board that I've been maintaining since 1998 has helped many people with their quest to find Manning history and also has been used to promote Manning events.

I know it has nothing over the modern social media sites, but it is just for Manning people and about Manning people...also it is only for positive messages - I do not allow any spam or negativity, so it is a special forum to me.

Nancy (Stoberl) Stammer has posted a message about the upcoming class of 1969 reunion on the Manning Exchange...feel free to post any questions/comments you may have...or just read the message.

Nancy and her husband Calvin have been big supporters of my history projects so I thought I would return the favor and help them get the word out about the MHS class of 1969 reunion.

Click to go down memory lane

I'm currently working with a Keat descendant.
We are sharing pictures and information and are hoping that other Keat descendants and relatives will come forward with pictures and information.

I've added some of the new Keat military information to their respective names in the Veterans' section.
This is where I would like to start with other Keat connected individuals - military pictures, documents, discharge papers, honors, medals, etc to scan and add to their stories and my Manning database.
Obituaries that I don't have for the Keat and connected family members will also be very helpful.
Other family names that married into the Keat family: Tate, Groteluschen, Campbell, Schultz, more.
Here are the Keat connected Veterans we are looking for pix and information: Civil War, Martin Van Buren Tate; WWI, Harry Keat & John Keat; WWII, George Keat & Leola (Keat) Petersen; Korean era, Wesley Keat, Sr., & Larry Keat.

My newly found Keat friend is been digging around and has been sending me a number of obituaries...one was of a lost Kusel relative of mine.
Another one is of Hotchy. Anyone my age and older should remember Hotchy's popcorn stand next to the Crystal theater. His name was George Parish and you will probably remember he was blind, but I doubt you knew he was a WWI Veteran.
So all of these obits I've been receiving are really helping me with my Manning family and Veteran historical research.

Sadly, like so many modern day obits and especially those written in the big cities, these obits are short on historical and family facts, and often have a number of errors.
BUT because I've worked on Manning history for so long and have an extensive database, I'm able to correct at least some of those errors and also add more "facts" so at least the reader will know which family the person descended from...

One is the loneliest number!!! I was recently contacted by a lady who is trying to find her blood relatives. After several e-mails back and forth, we now know that she is actually a distant cousin of mine.
She determined through DNA tests that my third cousin and third cousin, twice removed are in her blood line�two different branches of my Kusel/Friedrichsen tree.
Below is some information about which Friedrichsen branches she connected to but at this point is not able to determine the exact branch she comes from.

Julie, born in 1971 in Des Moines, is looking for help in finding out what her family bloodline is.
Her adoptive parents are deceased and the hospital where she was born apparently destroyed the archival records...courthouse records do not exist.
She recently took a DNA test and found 2 matches in the Henry & Rosa (Kusel) Friedrichsen family tree.
One specific match was in the Edward Friedrichsen line and the other match was in the Herman Friedrichsen line so it appears she does descend from one of the Henry & Rosa Friedrichsen lines.

Like so many people who were adopted out, Julie would like to know where she comes from and who her living relatives are, and hopefully get to know some of her long-lost "cousins."
She is not out to judge anyone or look for any type of compensation...just searching for family connections.
Most secrets in small communities are never 100% secret, and generally when an adoption occurs, other family members and neighbors have some knowledge of these events...so if you can help Julie with her quest in finding out which specific branch she comes from - she would be very grateful.

These are the children of Henry & Rosa Friedrichsen: Clara (Friedrichsen) Wiese, William, Helena (Friedrichsen) David, Julia (Friedrichsen) Borkowski, Flora (Friedrichsen) Polzien who had no children - only step-children, Edward, Emil who was never married.

I can appreciate the privacy of situations like this. Over the last 20+ years I have actually helped several other adopted or born out of wedlock individuals make contact with their biological family members...all of which turned out great with happy reunions.
I also can understand that this knowledge might upset some of the family members, which is not my goal, nor that of Julie.
But having worked on Manning family history for over 40 years, I have come to understand how very important "family" is to most people.

I have pictures of some of my great-great-grandparents and pictures of all my great-grandparents and under, along with a lot of family information and history, so I am fortunate and cannot fathom how difficult it must be for someone who knows basically nothing about their family ancestry.

All families have divorce, out of wedlock births, and adoption somewhere in their family tree. This is nothing to be ashamed of or judgmental about, but a fact of human existence.

So if you can help Julie, please send me an e-mail and I will forward her your information.
IF you choose to be anonymous to Julie, but still willing to provide me with the information, I will maintain your privacy and forward the other information to her.
If you want to remain completely anonymous, you can fill out the form on The Manning Exchange linked on the left side frame and submit it.
You can put in a fake name and don't have to add your e-mail address.

Just fill in the required information, answer the security questions, and then submit the information.
I control what/when information is actually posted, so I'll just copy your information and then delete the message...it won't get posted.

Thanks,
Dave

I'm always watching for picture postcards I don't have scanned that are for sale on E-bay.
Right now there are quite a few for sale, but none that I don't already have at least one if not several scans from originals.
There are also 2 that are listed as Manning but they are not.

When E-bay began I could get post cards for only a few dollars, but that obviously has changed a lot now.
Fortunately I had been gathering old Manning postcards and scanning them from local sources for decades, so I haven't had to purchase many off e-bay, but once in a while I'll see a postcard or old Manning photo that I don't have.

If they are reasonably priced then I might bid on them.
I also may purchase some of them even if I already have scans or a hard copy original, if they have information on back or are in better condition than the scans I already have.

Someone recently purchased a reprint copy on e-bay of this first image (shown below). What they purchased wasn't the original postcard but a reprint made from the seller's scan of an original postcard.
Years ago I scanned an original postcard of this image but it is not the high resolution I make today, so hopefully someday I'll run across another original postcard of this image.

I have several scans of the image of the second picture (shown below) but would like to have the person who purchased the one on e-bay send it to me to make a high resolution scan of it...I assume a Manning connected person purchased it.
I may run into another original postcard someday to scan but I'm also interested in scanning the information on the back of that Mueller corner postcard recently sold on e-bay.

So if you are reading this request - please e-mail me so I can work it out to get that postcard from you to scan. I do NOT want to keep it but scan it with my professional scanners/software.

By the way I have scans of many different angles and years taken at the old Mueller intersection on Main Street - and also from the 5th Street intersection shown below.

By the way, if anyone has old Manning postcards - and you are planning on throwing them away, or selling them - please consider letting me scan them first.

If you have old Manning postcards but want to keep them, I still would like to scan them...even if I might already have scans of some of them.

And to make it perfectly clear - I do not make money off of the scans I make or the history I scan and add to my database.

My historical preservation projects have cost me thousands and thousands of dollars over the last 45 years, and anyone who pays attention knows I share my work freely - no ads to annoy you with, and no logins to pay for on my web pages.

All I ask in return is for people to share their old pix and history with me so I can scan them into my database.

Kinderfest June 16, 2019
where past and present meet

From the very beginning of Manning's existence in 1881, the citizens realized that all work and no play would not make for a quality of life needed for a healthy community.
So in the fall of 1881, the very first event to celebrate the life of the community and entertain the kiddies was called the "Thanksgiving Hop."
Then each year thereafter an annual event was held specifically for the children and on February 9, 1882, the Manning Schuetzen Verein (incorporated under the State of Iowa laws on April 11, 1879) officially organized and later in the year held the first Kinderfest (children's festival) which has continued each year except 1 year during WWI and 2 years during WWII...While probably debatable and maybe not provable, Manning's Kinderfest can lay claim to the longest consecutively run community event in Iowa.
While there were much older community events around the state, they eventually died out.

Today, we have a few children and their families living here whose great-great-great-grandparents attended Kinderfest in their day.

Here are a few more sneak preview images - later on I'll add the full complement of pictures and some background information about them.

June 17 2:00 p.m. Rain

It is always amazing how we usually get a threat of rain during Children's Day...sometimes it will rain right before or at the end of the day, but there were very few Children's Days that rained out.

Manning Hillside Splash

Click for a printable flier

In January of 2018, I created this historical perspective linked below about recreation in Manning and also information and graphics for the current proposed project for the Rec Center.
It shows how projects don't get done overnight and also how very important volunteers and donations are to every project.

Update on the Hillside Splash project
On May 15, 2018, the city council approved $400,000 in matching funds for the proposed Hillside Splash project. JEO Consulting has been working on design ideas and a proposal to complete this project in 3 phases.
Phase 1 will begin in 2019-20 with construction beginning in 2020-21, or as soon as funds are raised.
A zero-depth pool with some play features are planned in phase 1, with the slide aspects in phase 2, and a spray pad for phase 3.

Click on the link below to see some very interesting history on how Manning achieves so many amazing things and is now working on another unique project.

Manning Hillside Splash

Oh the Fun of playing in the Sun (1968)

1909 cartoon about 2 boys nabbing their friends' clothes while "skinny dippin.'"

Click to find out about the project

History can be as complicated or simple as people make it.
What's wrong is when self-appointed "history police" take it upon themselves to be the ones who determine what history we should keep and what history they feel needs to be destroyed...they are the "book burners" of today.
They spout all kinds of sophomoric statements, which most of the time have no basis in fact or historical perspective - only what they believe their truth is, and anyone who disagrees with them is evil or represents what they claim is bad.

I saw this item on E-bay and purchased it. It caught my eye from the standpoint of several historical aspects so I felt it needed to be preserved in my Manning Historical Database.

More commentary about this item coming...

There are so many ways to preserve and present history...pictures, video, audio, written words, and sadly, in many cases - nothing is done so individuals and events just disappear completely over time.
In 2016, I sat down with Orland to get his military story and also his "Manning" story.
Below is a link to one of the audio sessions I had with Orland. I'm using this audio and other sessions to create a story about Orland's life...
One thing nice about capturing audio is you get to not only hear the voice of the person featured but you get to hear his laugh and inflections in the way he uses words.
The audio is about 1 hour long. I removed some of the dead space and less important parts of the conversation and hope that you will take the time to listen to Orland talk about some of the highlights about the Manning Ag Center history.

Orland Fara remembers...February 2016

An observation I made during Orland's funeral was the lack of attendance by business people and Manning citizens in general. I realize many of them paid their respects at the viewing the day before and the church is relatively small but having attended funerals for 50+ years and knowing Manning history...society has changed a lot - it was quite common when a businessman passed away years ago that the businesses on Main Street closed down during the funeral and most of the owners attended the funeral.
Here are just two examples.
Ulysses L. Patton
July 30, 1908
ONE OF OUR OLDEST PIONEER CITIZENS PASSES AWAY LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Was a Member of the City Council for Fifteen Years and on School Board for Nine Years.
Mr. Patton has been in the stock business in Manning for a number of years and was associated in the business with his son, Dwight, at the time of his death. As a token of the esteem in which Mr. Patton is held by the business men here every place of business in the city was closed from 10 to 12 o'clock, during the time of his funeral and all public work was suspended the entire day.

John Frahm, Prominent Business Man Died Tuesday
Entered Into Rest May 28, 1940 At Home Manning
The spacious funeral home and every, available place around the premises was occupied by friends during the services. Every business place in town was closed in his respect during the services.
The deceased leaves many memories and some heritages which will endure through Manning's history. He was one of the towns leading citizens; a man of pleasing personality; jovial; kind and honorable. He was a good friend to have and he had a host of friends. The Chamber of Commerce, Manning, 3-Mile House and 5-Mile House Schuetzen Verein, of which he was a member, and other organizations always found him a willing worker and liberal giver. The town and community will feel his departure in losing a faithful helper and progressive citizen. He was a faithful husband and a kind and loving father in his home and gave himself unselfishly for the comforts and good of his family.

Military honors

Another reason why more citizens should have attended the funeral was to honor and show respect to Orland for his military service...a Veteran of the Korean War.

Now these comments are solely my own and not intended to judge/criticize anyone but just as an observation of change over the years.

Orland Fara
June 25, 1931 - April 22, 2018

Visitation Wednesday April 25, 2018 , 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM at Ohde Funeral Home, Manning
Funeral Service Thursday April 26, 2018, 10:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church, Manning
Visitation resumes at church at 9:30 AM.
Interment with Military Honors will follow the funeral at the Manning Cemetery

More information and pictures coming...

Please visit the Manning Exchange for local news, articles, and information...a work in progress.

Many upcoming events.

Korean War Veterans continues

There are lots of Manning Veterans of the Korean era with no pictures or information.
Will you be in the Manning Veterans' book???
Unless more post-WWII Veterans come forward there will be a lot of 1946 to present day Manning connected Veterans missing from the book.

For those of you who are occasional visitors to the Manning Exchange - please make sure to click on the "archived articles" section where previous featured stories are kept.

Click to visit the Manning Exchange

1 example from the Logeland Studio wedding packets.

There are still quite a few Logeland Studio wedding packets available.

Click to read about this important project.
It will help to financially support the Manning Veterans' history book project.

What makes up a community?
Just ONE person
who is a son or daughter
who is a brother or sister
who has a school chum
who is related to someone in that town
whose friend has a friend in that town
whose friend is related to someone else in town
who may have moved away but still thinks of the place they grew up as home

We would like to hear from you, the "1983 Leaders of Tomorrow" who have relatives and chums in your hometown of Manning, Iowa.

In their own words
Attention "1983 Leaders of Tomorrow"

Who is the sister of the meteorologist linked below?
Click to see the answer in her own words

Who grew up on a farm south of Manning, has chased tornados, and is now a meteorologist for the National Weather Service?
Click to see the answer in his own words

I have been receiving questions from various "1983 kids" about what type of information we would like them to write about.
Please read through the meteorologist's story to get ideas for you own personal write-up.
Then send me an e-mail so we can work out your story.

Note: Your story does not have to be as thorough as found at the link above but at least send us a couple paragraphs to bring us up to date from 1983. Here is the DIRECT link to the 1983 web page.

Parents of the "1983" kids - please encourage your children to send in their updated information and any pix they may want to include.
Sometimes a little nudge by mom or dad will get the ball rolling!
Each 1983 "Leader of Tomorrow" has interesting family history.

Here are the names of the "1983 kids" who we are looking for an update from...
Aaron & Courtney Potthoff, Adam Croghan, Andrew & Amanda & Brandon Puck, Alex & Abbey Ranniger, Allison & Megan Keese, Angela & Heather & Michele Hass, Angie & Alan Irlbeck, Bradley Christensen, Bryan & Nathan Rohe, Chelsea Souter, Christin Ann Fara, Christopher Wegner, Cole & Ty Henderson, Dale & Vanessa & Derek Hargens, Daniel Wayne Tibben, Daniel & Janelle Stribe, Dawn & Derrick Rohe, Dawn & Michelle Willenborg, Elizabeth & Jamy Zinke, Ericka & Andrea Ehlers, Gary & Beth & Tim Ferneding, Heather & Jessica & Jimmy Switzer, Jackelyn McKeighan, Jamie Jo Irlbeck, Jeffrey & Joey & Jeremy Irlbeck, Jeffry & Kelli & Jason Lorenzen, Jeremia Rex Macumber, Jennifer & Jason & Renee Knueven, Jennifer & Jeremy Misselhorn, Jeremy Puck, Jessica Rasmussen, Jill Kienast, Joe Stein, Joseph & Mackenzie Hinners, Kasie & Andrea & Amy Lorenzen, Kenzie Kae Kerkhoff, Lauren & Shad Bauer, Marte Wanninger, Matthew & Mandi Weitl, Melissa & Angie Pfannkuch, Michael & Amy & Jeremy Kasperbauer, Michael & Michaela Hargens, Melissa & Michaela Vinke, Michael & Matthew Siepker, Michaela & Crystal Ehlers, Natasha Vonnahme, Ryan & Rachel Pfannkuch, Sabrina Lee, Sarah Kaszinski, Sheri & Trena Bell, Tara Zeman, Stephen & Ryan & Darren Andersen, Tonya Jo Wurr, Tiffany & Michelle Jahn, Tim & Matt Hugeback, Brian & Katie & Steph Beck, Troy & Robin Wanninger

If you send me some information about yourself, I may also be able to find some pictures of your parents, grandparents, family members that I have in my database (as shown above).
We can use them in your story along with your "1983" picture.

We'd like to hear from you !!!
What ever became of the
1983 "Leaders of Tomorrow"

Have some of your "Dreams" come true?

"Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen."
George Washington, August 7, 1782

Just as a reminder: the Manning History book committee continues to work on a Manning area Veterans' history book project.
For those of you who are Veterans or have/had Veterans in your family - will you come forward?
The history book committee will do their best to get as many pictures and information about the 1000+ Manning Veterans but we can't do it all by ourselves.

How many small communities do you know have published 5 history books? The first one was the History of Manning 1898, then the 1981 Manning Centennial book, next the 2006 Manning Quasqui book, and most recently the 2009 Manning School history book. Probably the last book to be published will be the upcoming Manning Veterans' book - unless someone comes forward in the next generation to take over these projects after I'm gone. Will you help with the Veterans' history book project? If you are a Manning connected Veteran or are presently serving and do not submit your military connected pictures and infomation you probably won't be in this once-in-a-life-time Manning Veterans' history book. With a limited number of volunteers we can only do so much on our own but will try to get pictures of as many Veterans as we can. There are over 1000 Manning Veterans so we have a long ways to go before the book can be published.

Manning Veterans are slowly coming forward and below is another example. We hope to eventually get more pictures and information for Mike to put in the book but for now this is what I have to show to you.

Amos Rutz WWII

One thing that many Veterans and people who are submitting information have not fully understood is that this next Manning history book is specifically a Veterans' only book. It won't be like the Centennial or Quasqui history books were, where there is a Veterans' section along with other community aspects. We are aiming for a 2-volume book (around 1090 total pages) which will really be unique!!!
This book will be ALL Veterans' information (and the post auxiliaries) - hence it won't be a "Name, Rank, and Serial Number" only history but we want a complete history for each Veteran.
For instance - below is Louis Boell's picture and the information that was published in the Veteran section of the 1982 Aspinwall Centennial history book. It has the basic information but we are looking for more and I spoke to Louie by phone and he sent more pictures and information - also for his brothers.

To see what Louis submitted click on the link underneath "Are you a Manning Veteran" shown below.

Note: we also want some family background such as parents and grandparents. All too often you will only see just the Veteran's name with their basic military information but without the family connections it will be difficult for future historians and genealogists to know for sure who this person belongs to.

Are you a Manning connected Veteran? I would like to hear from you!!!
We are starting a Manning Veteran history book project and if you don't come forward you may not be included in the book. NOT because we want to intentionally leave you out but because you didn't come forward.
Same goes for those of you who have Veterans in your family who have passed away. If you don't come forward and help by submitting Veteran connected pictures and information your Veteran may not be included in this once in a life-time Manning Veterans' history book.

Please e-mail me about your Veteran questions manningveterans@davidkusel.com

The United States flag
is proudly displayed here and NO other flag is as IMPORTANT!

1 Manning citizen served in the War of 1812
48 served in the Civil War
1 served in the Indian War
3 served in the Spanish American War
300+ served during WWI
550+ served during WWII
87+ served in the Korean war era
65+ (more names need to be found) served in the Vietnam era
55+ (many more names need to be found) served from 1975 to present

26 paid the ultimate price with their lives defending the U.S. Flag

Are you a Manning Veteran?
Are you currently serving and have a Manning connection?
We are starting the Manning Veterans' history book project
Don't wait until you see "Deadline" or it WILL be too late!!!

Click to read promos for the Veteran book

There are a lot of WWI and some WWII Veterans pictures with no IDs.

Before you spend time scanning pictures
please look at these instructions
I appreciate your efforts scanning pictures for me but if you only make low resolution scans you are really wasting your time. High resolution scans are the best and only way to really preserve those old pictures.

Click to see the tutorial

If you simply don't want those old family pictures you inherited please don't throw them - send them my way.
A lot of times I can recognize a face or location in those old pix.

One thing to keep in mind while you are looking for pictures - if they are glued in old scrap books please do NOT try to pull them out or cut them out. I can scan the whole page of the scrapbook and crop out the pictures you want to use in the book. If you attempt to forcibly remove the pictures you will probably damage them and when I scan them that damage will probably show up. This means I'll either have to use my graphics program to touch up the damage which can take a lot of time, or if they are badly damaged I just may not even take the time to scan them.