Funeral services for Emma Marie Ranniger were held Saturday, January 15, 1994, at 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Manning, Iowa. Reverend Lanny Tuttle of the First United Methodist Church in Carroll, Iowa, officiated the service with Janet Myer as organist and Larry Genzen as vocalist. Interment was held in Manning City Cemetery, Manning, Iowa, with Wayne Ranniger, Lester Boyens, Rollin Joens, Wilmer Ranniger, Jack Lorenzen, and Myron Joens as casketbearers.

Emma, daughter of Lorenz and Catherine (Clausen) Lorenzen, was born July 24, 1897, in Jefferson Township, Shelby County, Iowa. She attended rural school in Shelby County. Her mother passed away when Emma was nine years old. At the age of 17 she took over the household caring for her younger brothers and sister and her father.

On March 3, 1920, Emma was united in marriage with Julius Ranniger in the Lutheran Church in Denison. They moved to a farm northwest of Manning. To this union two daughters, May Delle and Marian, were born. They lived on the farm until March of 1952 when they moved to Manning. Julius passed away on June 16, 1959. Emma stayed in their house until March of 1981 when she moved to the Elm Crest Apartments in Manning.

Emma's health started to fail in the fall of 1989 and in May of 1990 she became a resident of the Manning Plaza Nursing Home. She died there on Thursday, January 13, 1994 at the age of 96 years, 5 months, and 20 days.

Besides her husband she was preceded in death by her parents; a son-in-law, Charles Engelmann; and brothers and sisters: Anna Ehrichs, Lena Thomsen, Tom Lorenzen, Hannah Boyers, Christina (Ranniger) Tesch, William Lorenzen, John Lorenzen, Ed Lorenzen, and Amanda Steen.

Survivors include her daughters: May Delle and her husband, Eugene Petersen, of Harlan and Marian and her husband, Gilmore Joens, of Arthur; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Emma was a member of the Methodist Church in Manning. She was always a quiet type person. She enjoyed cooking and baking and she loved her home, her family, and her friends.