While working on obituaries that my Manning helper Connie finds for me in various newspapers, I also watch for other Manning stuff and here is just one sample.
Years ago, it was very common for the area newspapers to feature the little daily activities going on in and around that town.
It was gossip to some extent but I'm so glad that a local reporter called around to find out these little tidbits of our history that would have otherwise been lost forever.
Privacy laws today have eliminated most of these type of articles.
I remember most of the people in these little clippings and all of them are deceased (I think), except for one of them - Gary Schroeder.
I also learned about another community social club in Manning I had not heard of before.
There are also aspects of the community that no longer are reported on and is too bad when a person stops to think that it really is the responsibility of that organization or public entity that gets tax payer and community support, financially.
I have pictures of most of these past Manningites or of someone in their family, but don't have time to find and post them now.

Carroll Times Herald, October 12, 1957

Surprise Lesson At Toastmistress Meeting in Manning
Manning Toastmistress Club met Tuesday morning with Iola Stammer as hostess and Faye Hill, co-hostess.
Topic mistress Evelyn Polking presented a surprise lesson on listening. Governor Faubus, in the person of Bonita Hagedorn, gave his views on the racial problems in his state. President Eisenhower, represented by Florence Genzen, gave an account of his actions. Dolores Ramsey was then asked to give Mrs. Hagedorn's speech and Emma Dietz to give Florence Genzen's speech.
Following a business meeting, Toastmistress Bonita Hagedorn presented Florence Bock, who talked on "It All Started with Eve." Inez Hansen then gave a lesson on reading. Dolores Ramsey evaluated speaker No. 1; Eunice Jensen acted as lexicologist; Florence Genzen was general evaluator, Eunice Hass timed the meeting.

Herman Behrens Sells His Business To Ralph Grundmeier
Herman Behrens of Manning has sold his oil business here, after 32 years. His Home Oil Company station, bulk plant and tank wagon have been bought by Ralph Grundmeier of Manning.
Mr. Behrens began business here in 1925. Mr. Grundmeier, who came to Manning from Carroll eight years ago, has been operating a motor repair business at the Home Oil Company since that time.

Mr. and Mrs. Don Schrum and Randy of Missouri Valley spent October 8 in Manning and attended funeral services for Elmer Peters.

Gary Schroeder, son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Schroeder, is now in service, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Pahde are spending a week in Milwaukee with their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kohnke and family.

Mrs. Carl Sandberg of Oakland, California, plans to spend, the next two months in Manning with her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Wentzel. This is the first time in 46 years that Mr. Wentzel and his sister have been together.

Firemen at Manning Elect Their Officers
Officers of Manning's Volunteer Fire Department were elected at the annual meeting October 8.
Claus Nielsen is president; LaVerne Olsen, vice president; Ed Knaack, secretary; Ronald Hiatt, treasurer; Billie Ohde, chief; and Edwin Johnson, assistant chief.
Trustees named were Jack Ramsey, Merlin Hass, and Merle Stoelk; custodian, Earl Hoffman; hall committee: Delbert Vinke, Elvin Laurinat, Julius Hoffman, Matthew "Bud" Wagner, and Gil Nelson are new members of the squad.
The annual goose dinner will be served November 19, with Chris Schmidt, Merlin Hargens, Bud Wagner, Wilbur Karstens, and Allan Grage in charge of arrangements.

EMPLOYED IN CHICAGO
Melvin Clothier, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Clothier of Manning, is now employed in the business offices of Reed Hospital in Chicago.

Every spring I hear people exclaim how windy it is and was never as windy when they were kids.
Well every spring it is windy because every spring it is always naturally windy.
Here is a 1949 account...

GRASS FIRES
The Manning Fire Department was called out twice during Wednesday night's high wind to extinguish two grass fires here. One was at the Kuker Oil Station and the other at the Bill Hagedorn home.
Carroll Daily Times Herald, April 15, 1949

I often like to show the extent of Manning history I have, to try to encourage more Manning connected people to get me their old Manning pix, history, obits, documents, etc. to me so I can scan them and add them to the Manning Historical Database.


November 6, 1947 Monitor ad


Jake Jr., Ginette, Mernetta, Jake Kuker
Taken in front of Anna Hagedorn's home - Ralph's mother...

I'm looking for more Kuker obits. According to my notes, Jake was married twice.
The second wife was Ralph Hagedorn's sister but I need to find more information to confirm this.

One of the workers at Kuker Oil Station shaking hands with Jim Kuker
Daru Ross is sure this is Walter "Butch" Mahlberg, who worked for Emil Jansen - owner of this station (Phillips 66 franchise) called "Emil's Service," and then Butch purchased it from Emil.
Then Merlyn Irlbeck purchased the business from Butch - Daru worked for Merlyn for a while during early 1970.
This business was located west, near Merle Saunder's Cafe.
If anyone can provide more information - PLEASE let me know.


I'm pretty sure the Kuker building is just above Martha Hagedorn's head in this picture.
I think this was taken sometime after the August 6, 1956, windstorm that hit Manning - the strongest recorded storm in Manning.

The warehouse below that became Spies Fur was next to the Nishnabotna Creek, just west of the service station shown above.

Originally the warehouse for the various service station owners and Phillips 66 franchise.
This is a rough time-line that several people have given me but may need some tweaking and corrections...
Originally a warehouse for the various service station owners that had Phillip 66 franchise.
There was a block building just east of this building and then the Merle Saunders Café just east of that…then later Merle tore down the block building and café and built the Saunders Steak House and motel.
Merle sold this old tin roofed building and property next to the creek to Ken so he could start his Spies Fur business.
Merlyn Irlbeck then moved his business to the Quonset that now is part of Rasmussen Lumber Company, where various owners of that business worked for many years.


Merle Saunders Cafe 1956 - just east of the service station building.


Greetings sent to Clarence & Iola Stammer


Ginette Kuker next to the Garden Club's fire place in the city park...she graduated in 1962.
In the background you can see the Twin Gable's station where the original Casey's store was once located.


Jake Kuker MHS 1968


James Kuker MHS 1958


Jake Kuker and Dave Rauch 1966


Standing: Norman & Elena Kuker, Delores & Lou Odendahl, Leon & Rose Hugeback
Frank Handlos seated
Norman was a nephew of Jake Kuker, Sr. and purchased the Kuker Oil Station from Jake

We are looking for Norman's obituary. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lampasas, Texas.
He and Elena had 3 sons: Johnny, Donald, and Ronald