"Home of Pioneer Spirit" |
Some songs of reflection about our lives and how we use that time...
More pix and information coming...
I appreciate it when people, who once lived here, relay messages about how proud they are to have been a part of the community and give complementary kudos to the people of the Manning community who currently live here, with so many of them who are also proud of their community and help in so many ways.
On 8/28/2023 12:31 PM, Linda Stolfus wrote:
Hi Dave, Just want to say that was very special to
see and read all you have on your website especially the new Manning 1966
feature I read a couple days ago. I enjoyed it all.
It's close to my class of 1964, actually the year my
sister Jan graduated. I saw a picture of my little brother at the time sitting
on the folk's front porch with friends (Dean) in the second set and a picture
of brother Terry in grade school in the third set I believe it was. There were
a lot of things I recognized and the people also from that time frame.
You do a tremendous job with your website. I live in northern Iowa so
thoroughly enjoy reading and seeing the pictures you put on here. I haven't
been in Manning in years but is good to see your site for sure.
You could put other years on in my era as well. It's always nice to remise of days gone by.
One last thing I have always wanted to do is contact the Manning Monitor or
maybe the Chamber and let you people know what a super job you have done with
our small town in keeping everything so nice, up to date, whatever it needs
done you do it. The new park down the street from the folk's house where Dad's
bulk tanks were at is beautiful as well, my girls used to go down there with
their cousins to the totem pole in their younger days. Also
your water slide is another special item for kids. I could go on and on, but I
just want to congratulate Manning as a whole for all
they do to keep that small town clean and beautiful.
So you can see I look at your website all the time to see if anything is going
on or I recognize someone you have on. And thank you for classmate Ruby's tribute as I didn't know she passed away.
Sincerely, Linda Stolfus
Denise Doyel informed me that the daughter of Brenda (Puck) died in a tragic auto accident in Omaha.
I had noticed an Abby Olberding listed on the Dawn & Woodhouse website,
but the full obituary wasn't posted yet, so I didn't realize her mother was Brenda Puck, and Olberding isn't a "Manning" name.
I don't have any pictures or information about Abby or the Olberding family but thought I would post some of the Puck history for people who would know them and not realize Abby's connection to Manning.
Randy Mundt and Jon Ahrendsen were a team of drivers
Pete Croghan drove a windrower
Craig "Spitter" Moeller
Stan Musefeldt drove a semi, delivering the dried pellets
Lyle Mundt was a supervisor
Randy Renze was a sub supervisor
Dave Croghan and Dale Rohe might have been truck drivers
Steve Phillips was a plant operator
Curtis Stribe
Larry Mundt drove truck
Walter Lage ran a chopper
Barry Kusel drove truck and ran a chopper
Doug Kusel drove truck
John Opperman
Joseph "Jr." Hugeback - located field operators
Albert Sturm worked for 10 years
Gerhardt Voge worked in the plant
Emily Opperman drove truck - probably the only female driver
Dave Stoelk
George Graves - office
Rick Lohrmann
Mike Phillips
Dean Grau
Marlin Kahl
Elmer Fischer
Donald Weiskircher
Shirley Reid - book keeper
Also other anecdotal memories:
There was a small truck that was nicknamed "Peanut."
Initially, they green chopped everything but in later years to save drying time, a windrower was used to let the hay dry naturally for a couple of days before bringing it to the plant.
While e-mailing back and forth with my cousin, Jon, he asked me about the current status of the buildings at the old M&I Dehy plant. I had always wanted to take some current pictures
of the buildings that are left which I did recently and then it gave me an idea about gathering and documenting names of employees, the jobs they had, and some anecdotal stories
people may have.
Fortunately there was a story about the plant in the 1981 Manning Centennial book which is shown below, along with a current picture I took, and I had completely forgotten that
I had scanned some pictures that were taken by Ron Colling for the Manning Monitor when some of the equipment was brought in by rail.
On December 27, 1967, a group of twenty interested investors met at the Manning city hall to formulate plans to build an alfalfa dehydrating plant capable of producing
three tons of dehydrated alfalfa per hour.
At this meeting a board of directors was elected as follows: Elmer Renze of Carroll, manager of Farmers Grain; Lester Joens, Donald Hinners, Ivan Opperman, all local farmers,
and Gilbert Phillips, State Farm Insurance representative. The name of the firm, "M & I" derived from its location at Manning, Iowa.
The company was incorporated January 2, 1968, at which time plans were announced to offer 202,500 shares of common stock at $2 per share for a total capitalization of $450,000.
This was handled by Russ Brooks Securities of Harlan.
Ivan Opperman served as the first president and continues in that capacity today. Other officers were Don Hinners, first vice-president,
Gilbert Phillips, secretary, and Lester Joens, treasurer.
The company was formed to establish and operate "a completely automated facility for alfalfa". Alfalfa is dehydrated, pelleted and stored to preserve protein, vitamin A, and to
prevent oxidation. The finished product is used by livestock feeders as a food supplement and nutrient to encourage animal growth.
On November 18, 1968, nine acres of land located two miles north of Manning was purchased from Ivan and Elizabeth Opperman, and a construction contract was let
December 3, 1968, with Mr. Adrain Sivinsky of Agri Teck Supply Company of Omaha to engineer and construct the new plant.
It included a 960 square foot concrete block building which houses the master control room, grinding room, boiler room, and pelleting, bagging, and equipment room.
An office building was added later which includes a reception room and plant personnel offices.
The plant started operation July 1969, with Mr. Donald Dannamann of Grinnell as Manager. In 1976 George Graves then became the manager until his retirement in August of 1979.
John Opperman became the assistant manager November 1978, and has assumed the duties of manager since George Graves retired.
M & I Dehy is one of the most modern alfalfa dehydrating plants in this area and the first in the country to use electronic fat metering equipment. The plant employs
eleven workers the year around, and 34 during the season. The plant now contracts 1500 acres of alfalfa hay from local farmers,
and the processed products are sold in a 150-mile trade area.
Ad in the 1981 Manning Centennial book
Anyone who has pictures and/or worked at the Dehy - please send me names of employees who worked there and if you remember what their jobs/positions were.
If you have pictures, I'd like to scan them...
The only way we'll preserve our area history is if we work together to get this information into my Manning Historical Database.
Thanks,
Dave
M & I DENY, INC.
M&I Dehy, Inc., which was organized last month by 14 Iowans who invested a total of $45,000 in 22,500 shares of the
firm's stock, is offering 202,500 shares to Iowans at $2 a share to raise
capital to establish an alfalfa dehydration plant at Manning, Iowa.
The company, which has paid $150 for an option to buy five acres in the Manning Industrial Park for a total of $2,500, proposes to build a plant capable of processing about three tons of alfalfa an hour.
Near Manning
It would be designed to handle hay produced within an eight-mile
radius of Manning, and according to the prospectus on the stock offering, it is
believed the product could be marketed to livestock producers within a 75-mile radius.
The stock offering is being handled on a "best efforts" basis by Russ Brooks Securities Company, Harlan, Iowa. The stock issue has been registered with the Iowa insurance commissioner's office.
If the offering is completed the company would have $364,500, after the payment of 10 per cent sales commissions plus the $45,000 invested by organizers - or a total of $409,500.
Proceeds from the public offering will be held in escrow until 102,941 shares are sold, which would net about $175,000.
The company proposes to spend about $170,000 for the purchase of land, improvements, and construction of an automated plant. The plant would be equipped with a "Dehy" drum, hammer mill, pellet machine, cooler, shaker, weigher, and air lock.
Equipment
About $80,000 would be used to purchase two gas storage tanks, and $75,000
would be used to provide choppers and trucks that could chop alfalfa in the field and transport the product to the plant.
The prospectus said that if the stock sale is not completed, but escrow is reached, the firm would lease the mobile equipment and start operations without the gas tanks. It said it then would depend on borrowed funds for working capital.
While noting that the operation is "speculative," the prospectus said prices of dehydrated alfalfa have not fallen in recent years below the $32 a ton estimated cost of processing (At Midwestern centers the market ranged recently from $39 to $40 a ton).
The company intends to operate during the season - from early May until the fall frost - with operations on a 24-hour basis as needed. It expects to contract for about 1,500 acres of alfalfa, or an anticipated 7,500 tons.
The company's officers, all of whom are organizers, are Ivan L. Opperman, Manning, president; Donald Hinners, Manning, vice-president; Elmer J. Renze, Carroll, vice-president; Gilbert T. Phillips, Manning, secretary; Lester Joens, Manning, treasurer; and James H. Cavanaugh, Carroll, general manager.
One Salary
All except Cavanaugh are members of the board of directors, and all except
Cavanaugh serve without pay. Cavanaugh has an employment contract calling for a
salary of $700 a month starting when the stock sale reaches the level for funds to be released from escrow.
Other organizers are Francis J. Zerwas, Manning; Jerome L. Rolfes,
Halbur; Art Hinners, Halbur; Emil J. Opperman, Manning; Lawrence J. Polking, Manning;
Fred Renze, Manning; Melvin Renze, Manning; and Leo Rasmussen, Manilla.
Des Moines Register February 11, 1968
6 Directors Named At Manning Plant
Six directors were elected at the first annual meeting of the shareholders of M&I Dehy, Inc. here.
Directors chosen for one-year terms are Donald Hinners, Gilbert Phillips,
Lester Joens, Ivan Opperman, Claus Bunz, all of Manning and Elmer Renze, Carroll.
These men were pre-incorporation subscribers when the Manning plant was planned
in 1967, and have been serving as temporary officers.
Ivan Opperman, acting president, presented the corporation's financial
statement. Cost estimate as of August 19, 1969, was $340,489.28. Approximately
$90,000 more will be spent to complete the plant to meet specifications set
forth in original plans. The plant has been built with a double expansion factor for future requirements.
Donald Danneman, plant manager, said the present payroll includes 10 men and
that four will be employed full-time during the slack season.
Put in operation on July 22, 1969, the plant has processed two tons of hay per
hour since. The plant will experiment with processing of corn stalks in the fall months.
Daily Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, September 14, 1969
I know it sounds like bagging and I have a big head but you aren't going to find another historical web page for a specific community with as many pictures, history, and varied topics as I am able to provide for the Manning area community...also I have attempted to ID as many pictures and find information about them as I can - other people have scanned some of their old pix and history but most don't take the time to get the correct IDs and information and don't have the sources I've used over the last 50 years - although sadly most of them are deceased now so I don't have people old enough who can help me with the old stuff I still find or is brought to me to scan.
I not only show this digital information I've gathered over the decades because I enjoy it but I'm always hoping that by featuring these stories more Manning connected people and Veterans will come forward with their pictures and history so I can scan those things and add them to my Manning Historical Database.
I remembered I had a bunch more country school pix - which I now added...
Then I found more Kasperbauer pictures and added them to the
appropriate links...
A person who does not embrace their past, has no future.
At least these pictures will be preserved and archived in my database and even when the originals get thrown away or deteriorate into dust someday, the digital images will still be around.
As I took pictures of the event I would listen to the various conversations and one of them caught my attention. A younger person was talking to another young relative and asking
that person if they were members of Ancestry...she said no, and the other person said you should join - it gives you a lot of information, but sometimes you go down rabbit holes.
Then I thought, while yes a lot of information can be found on those commercial sites, those sites do cover the historic work I do, which is more specifically about this area and not
a world-wide approach.
The members don't realize that I'll probably have pictures and information and little trivia aspects that most people simply ignore or don't think are important.
So I give my usual plug to Manning connected people to work with me - they can still give their information to those commercial sites that make money off of their work, but that is something I don't/won't do - my work is strictly and purely historical preservation.
For about 10 years now, Jim Stoffers and I have been working together on area history and pictures. He would find some pictures for me to scan and I would share pictures and information I scanned that he was interested in or have a family connection to him...he also would search the Internet for obituaries and other information for my many various Manning historic projects I wor tk on.
I know Jim won't want this to be about him but I want to highlight some information about him for the amazing exhibit he has compiled to be on display at the
Five Mile House Schuetzen Verein Hall.
So before I go into the details about the exhibit here is just a little bit about Jim's military service.
Not many people will take the time for events such as the exhibit, so I like to give them recognition for their time and efforts.
Now Jim didn't ask me to present this information about him with this feature story but as with all Manning connected Veterans, I like to honor them as best I can.
This military information will be used in the Manning Veterans history book. While Jim isn't directly connected to Manning he had several Veteran uncles and an aunt who lived/worked in
Manning/area...Judy (Gehlsen) Joens, for instance, and I'm including family connected Veterans in the book.
Now we'll go into the main aspect of this feature which is the exhibit Jim has put together, along with some help from his family and other friends of his.
Johann and Catharina (Groth) Jahn
They purchased 160 acres of Prairie ground eight miles northwest of Manning and five miles south of Westside in Hayes Township, Crawford County, and homesteaded that year.
Over the 150 years since then, direct descendants of the Jahn family have made their home on this Pioneer Jahn farm.
Today, Rich Hanson, originally of Manilla, who is the great-great-grandson of Johann and Catharina Jahn, now lives with his wife, Christy, and their two children on the Jahn acreage, located one-half mile east of the Five Mile House.
The public is invited to view the free, special historical exhibit at the Five Mile House on September 2 and 3, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of the Pioneer Jahn Farm.
The presentation will include a one-of-a-kind, self-guided display of archival farm, family, and Five Mile House photographs - all greatly enlarged for viewing. Historical documents will also be displayed, including copies of National Archive documents detailing the 1855 U.S. Act of Congress originally granting Virgin Prairie to French immigrant, Joseph Shepherd, for his service in the U.S. Navy during the Mexican War of 1846; the same farm which the Jahns later purchased.
The exhibit will include large 1906 and 1908 plat maps of the eight townships bordering the Carroll and Crawford County line - showing all the farms and listing the ownership names from that same period.
The Labor Day weekend presentation will also include an exploration of the Schleswig-Holstein diaspora to Western Iowa after the U.S. Civil War, including a large banner of a Schleswig-Holstein map displaying the towns and villages in northernmost Germany where many families, who immigrated to Western Iowa came from, along with a corresponding list of the surnames of those same local families.
Following in the German roots that many of our local
families have in this area, complementary "Koffee and Kuchen" will be served on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Danke! Hope to see you. fivehouse@myyahoo.com
Also, please remember to thank James Stoffers for all of the time he spent creating this exhibit and for his own personal expenses to make all of the displays.
June 2, 2019
VERY Patriotic organization! - click for video
While working on tributes, I find that I don't have obituaries for some of the various family members and people connected, so I ask my Manning helpers to see what they can find.
I've added several obits of people connected to the Ruhde tribute so you might want to check them out if you are a Ruhde/Jensen/Kusel relative.
I have Carl's tribute finished and linked below.
I'm finished with Steve's tribute - it was hard to know where to start because I have pix & information of many generations back for his ancestry - Ruhde/Claussen/Ohrt and Jensen/Kusel, so this
took some extra time putting it all together and make sure I have all of the connections correct.
Sadly, for one lady, who found my web page in 2003 and sent me several low resolution
scans of Ruhde/Claussen, her e-mail address no longer works, so I hope she might see this post and contact me, or maybe someone is in contact with her and will let her know I'm
trying to reach her again to see if I can get her original Manning connected pix to scan; one of which is just below.
As I'm going through the various transcribed Monitor articles in my database, here is one sentence that caught my eye, from the October 17, 1957, football game against Bayard.
Carl Saunders paced Manning's offense by scoring three times on runs of 15, 70, and 20 yards,
while Allan Laurinat tallied the fourth TD by snaring a 30-yard pass from Dave Peters.
It is so sad that I won't have information like this or pictures for the younger generations who pass away before me, and doubtful there will be anything like this after I pass
or that anyone will continue my historical web page to keep posting tributes and historical information, but maybe someone living in Manning will come forward some day and
take over when I'm no longer able or around.
One of the reasons I have so much school information is when I worked on the Manning Schools history book in 2005-06 I used my microfilm machine with printer and printed off a lot of school
stuff from the Monitor microfilm and then OCRd it.
But after a while it was taking too much time away from getting the school book published in time for Manning's
Quasquicentennial celebration, so I stopped doing this when I got to the late 1950s.
So I don't have much if any Spotlite or school articles in my database after 1960.
I'm working on a project where I'll be purchasing a huge commercial scanner so I can make a one-pass scan of the newspapers archived in the basement of the Monitor office that go
back to the beginning in 1881. The edges of these original papers are brittle but I am able to safely handle them and will be able to scan them.
I experimented with a few of them by
using my large scanner but I have to split-scan each page and then merge the 2 halves which takes WAY too much time.
Here is one example of what I plan to someday have for all of the Monitor papers.
Laurel Vogl, age 83, of Carroll and formerly of Halbur, peacefully passed away, surrounded by her family on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur. The celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Music will be by Julie Sibbel and the St. Augustine Choir. Lectors will be Bob Danner and Roger Kasperbauer. Gift Bearers will be Kim Hill, Nick Richards, Hadley Hummel, and Joey Vogl. Eucharistic Minister will be Adella Vogl. Casket Bearers will be Nick Richards, Tyler Hill, Gary Danner, Gary Vogl, Todd Singsank, and Steve Kasperbauer. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Monday from 5-7 p.m. at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. A rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Augustine Church on Tuesday morning where visitation will resume from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Laurel’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Laurel Cecelia, the daughter of John and Jennie (Muhlbauer) Singsank was born on September 25, 1939, in Manning, Iowa. She grew up in Manning and attended Ewoldt No. 2 country school, and graduated from Manning High School in 1957.
On June 9, 1958, Laurel was united in marriage to the love of her life, Earl Vogl, and they were blessed with five children. This June they were able to celebrate their 65 years of marriage with their family and friends. The couple made their home north of Halbur where they were engaged in grain and livestock farming. In 2016 they moved off the farm and into the Carroll community.
Laurel’s pride and joy was her family. She enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and spending time with her family. Laurel also enjoyed playing cards, camping, and traveling. She was a member of St. Augustine Guild and Parish in Halbur.
Left to celebrate Laurel’s life is her husband of 65 years, Earl Vogl; her children: Randy (Maria) Vogl of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Rhonda (Carl) Richards of Calamus; Rich (Joan) Vogl of Carroll; and Dr. Rod (Kim Jameson) Vogl of Memphis, Tennessee; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; her sister: Cleo (Gary) Hansen; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Jean Singsank, Connie Singsank, Lorraine Vogl, John (Adella) Vogl, Dorothy Danner, Mary Ann Kasperbauer, Levan Eich, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Laurel was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jenny Singsank; parents-in-law: John and Elizabeth Vogl; a daughter in infancy, Teresa Vogl; her siblings: Earl Singsank, Margaret (Russ) Popp, Della (Don) Berg, Glenn Singsank, Verna (Merlin) Hass; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Betty (Leo) Danner, Joe Vogl, Leroy (Barb) Vogl, Pete Danner, Norbert Kasperbauer, and Mike Eich.
Back: Larry Genzen, Russ Spies, Jack Mohr, Glen Singsank, Ruth Sextro, Donna Spies
Third: Tom Grau, Maxine Sextro, Verna Singsank, Mary Alice Mohr, Emil Grau
Second: Laurel Singsank, Darlene Genzen
Front: Gary Handlos, Stan Spies, Jay Musfeldt, Ron Mohr, Cleo Singsank, Linda Handlos, Loretta Lerssen
Stan Spies, Laurel Singsank, Jay Musfeldt, Darlene Genzen
Back: Russ Spies, Glen Singsank, Tom Grau, Ruth Sextro, Donna Spies, Maxine Sextro
Middle: Verna Singsank, Larry Genzen, Mary Alice Mohr, Emil Grau
Front: Jay Musfeldt, Darlene Genzen, Stan Spies, Laurel Singsank
Back: Verna Singsank, Maxine Sextro, Mary Alice Mohr, Donna Spies, Ruth Sextro
Front: Darlene Genzen, Laurel Singsank
Remember when they taught cursive writing?
When they stopped teaching it in school, I think that was one of the dumbest things they did.
I've heard most of the arguments justifying that decision but I can come up with as many to have kept it.
A few years ago my mother made the most insightful comment about it, she said...
"I just hope we don't end up where people will have to use X as their signature."
Being 98, she was old enough to remember when that was not all that uncommon.
Thanksgiving dinner - Golda Sander in back
I just noticed how much Mabel Langel looks like her grandmother Betty (Lengemann) Andresen.
Mabel is the daughter of Luann & Craig Langel.
1957 MHS graduates: Elke Bunz (valedictorian), Diane Dalgety, Richard Dammann, Raymond Fink, Darlene Genzen, Royce Genzen, Jon Groteluschen, Eugene Haberl (salutatorian), Janell Hansen, Ronald Hansen, Jeanette Henriksen, Ronald Hodne, Robert Horbach, Patricia Irlbeck, Dale Jansen, Larry Klocke, Kay Knobbe, Thomas Koon, Darlene Kruse, Robert Laverty, Alan Leinen, Betty Lengemann, Beverly Lerssen, Larry Lohrmann, Myra Meeves, Lenus Mundt, Dianne Nelson, Larry Nielsen, Catherine Nulle, Merlin Otto, Betty Peters, Larry Popp, Richard Popp, Shirley Puck, Warren Puck, Karen Rix, Karen Rowedder, Dennis Saunders, Gary Schroeder, Victor Schwiesow, Laurel Singsank, Marilyn Spieker, Richard Vehrs, AnnaBelle Vennink, Darlys Vollstedt, Vernon Wagner, Errol Wegner, Cleo Weller, Anna Zerwas, Larry Zerwas
1957 former students: Donald Abel, Elaine Ahrenholtz, Virginia Backhaus, Derald Barkalow, Dick Behrens, Fred Branning, Leon Brockelsby, Robert Doerning, Lyle Drees, Loy Fitz II, Kenneth Frahm, Leland Friedrichsen, James Fritz, Janice Hagedorn, Ronnie Hagedorn, Marilyn Hansen, Martha Hansen, Philip Hansen, Mary Himes, Jane Hinners, Jeanette Hugg, Roger Justice, Richard Kellogg, Phyllis Kienast, Harold Kinney, Sue Knisley, Neva Martens, Lance Masters, Glenn McLaughlin, Marsha Lou Ochsner, Joseph Peter, Roger Petersen, Craig Platter, Marilyn Richardson, Marlys Sander, Ronnie Schiltz, Linda Schumann, Katharine Shields, Cicily Ann Spicer, Terry Travis, Ruel Whitcher, Jr., Ronnie Wyatt
It used to be that children/family members of their deceased relatives
would send obituaries back to the hometown newspaper, in this case the Manning Monitor, but the traditional viewing, funeral,
services, luncheon, and obituaries are just about a thing of the past which is so sad, because
many people who knew that person and/or their family and even might be distantly related won't find out when the hometown newspaper isn't notified.
I realize that most funeral homes post those obituaries and sometimes the obits will be published in the town where the deceased lived, but unless you know who dies and search the
Internet for a possible obituary, it can be difficult to find.
More often than not any more, death notices or very brief obituaries are published, which can be difficult in determining
if/how the person is connected to Manning.
Visitation Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore, North Platte, Nebraska
Funeral Service Thursday, January 22, 2015 Brady Community Church, Brady, Nebraska
Mary Ann Hannon, 60 years, passed away at her home north of Brady, Nebraska, on Sunday, January 18, 2015.
Mary was born February 8, 1954, to Glenn Howard and Rachel Ruth (Fahrenbruch) Steinke in McCook, Nebraska. Her family moved from Trenton, Nebraska, to Manning, Iowa, when she was 3 years old. She was confirmed by Pastor Edward Heinicke, at Zion Lutheran Church on June 2, 1968. Mary graduated from Manning High School in 1973, then attended college for a year before getting married.
On September 21, 1974, Mary married Gerald Brian Hannon at Wichita, Kansas. They made their home in Kansas, living in different places before moving to Nebraska. They lived in North Platte prior to settling north of Brady in 1986. Mary then went back to college and earned a BA in Special Education from Kearney State College in 1995. She taught special education at Maxwell Public School and received her Master's Degree in 2004. Mary resigned from teaching in September 2005 due to her health.
She enjoyed her farm animals and liked to help others. Mary also volunteered with many different projects. She had a strong faith and belonged to the Missouri Synod Lutheran Denomination.
Mary will be missed by her husband of 40 years, Gerald, of Brady; children, Molly Hannon and Ryan (Paula) Hannon, all of Brady, and Luke (Emily) Hannon, of California; five grandchildren, Hope, Miguel, Wyatt, Lane, and Payton; her brother, Jim (Kathy) Steinke, of Cottonwood, Idaho; father-in-law, Harold Hannon, of Kansas, Oklahoma; sisters-in-law, Denise (Byron) Sargent and Gail (Larry) Barnes, of Wichita, Kansas; and Devon (Tom) Dye, of Kansas, Oklahoma; a niece, Sabrina (Brian) Johnson; nephew, Jason (Michelle) Steinke; and other family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Rachel Steinke; and mother-in-law, Erma White. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2015, at the Brady Community Church. Cremation will follow the service. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore and prior to the service in Brady. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Kids Scholarship at Maranatha Bible Camp. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
From the 2006 Manning Quasquicentennial history book
Glenn Steinke was born November 21, 1919 in Trenton,
Nebraska. He was the son of Frederick William and Pauline (Hedke) Steinke. He
attended Country School and helped his dad on the farm until February 6, 1942
when he was called into the service. He served 4 years in the Western Pacific
and received an honorable discharge on November 28, 1945.
On April 3, 1946 he was united in marriage to Rachel R. Fahrenbruch in
Culbertson, Nebraska. They made their home in Trenton, Nebraska where Glenn
worked for K.C. Miller Implement Company until they sold out and next he worked for the Co-op. While working for the Co-op
the Steinkes found an Ad in the Omaha World Herald newspaper for a partsman wanted at Puck Implement
Company in Manning. Glenn answered the call and got the job on April 1, 1957.
Glenn moved and two months later his family joined him.
Glenn and Rachel have two children: Jim Howard and his wife Kathy who live in
Cottonwood, Idaho and Mary Ann Hannon and her husband Gerald of Brady,
Nebraska, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Jim Steinke graduated from Manning High School in 1965 and then joined the
United States Air Force where he made his career.
Mary Steinke graduated from Manning High School in 1973 and is teaching in Maxwell, Nebraska.
Glenn worked at Puck Implement Company until he retired on January 1, 1984. He
spent lots of time watching sports and reading.
He passed away on October 1, 2002, at the age of eighty-two years, ten months, and ten days.
Submitted by Rachel Steinke August 18, 2004
1973 MHS graduates: Mari Louise Blum, Jeanine Marie Case, Eugene Patrick Croghan, Carolyn Louise Dreier, David Allen Edgerton, Anne Patrice Felker, Mary Cecile Felker, David H. Gore, Jr., Barbara Ann Grau, Duane A. Griffin, Susan Carmilita Halbur, Lori Jean Hargens, Paul Franklin Hargens, Peggy Frances Hargens, Joan Marie Heithoff, Denise Jeanette Hinners, Karen Ann Hinners, Joni Rean Hinze, Ronald Herbert Irlmeier, Kim Clark Jahn, Mark Alan Jansen, Jeff Alan Kasperbauer, Keith Francis Kerkhoff, Daniel Lee Lorenzen, Kent Amos Misselhorn, Michael Mohr, Steven Allen Mohr, Denise Renee Mork, Leon Louis Muhlbauer, Randall Craig Mundt, John Henry Opperman, Kevin Kenneth Pfannkuch, Diane Marie Phillips, Jeanne Marie Potthoff, Randy Lynn Saunders, Edward Anthony Schlichte, Richard Harold Schmidt, Paul Allen Schroeder, Sheila Jane Schrum, Rita Louise Schultz, Rex Allen Sebeniecher, Randall Anthony Spieker, Alice Dorothy Sporrer, Donna Kay Sporrer, Barbara Jean Stangl, James Anthony Stangl, Teresa Louise Stangl, Lynn Paul Stein, Mary Ann Steinke, Karen Sue Stoberl, Eugene Stoelk (salutatorian), James Allen Struve, Karen Kay Sturm, Carla Sue Talbott, Clark James Tibben, Cindy Lou Vehrs, Janet Helen Venner, Keith Alan Vetter, Beth Ann Volquartsen, Nancy Ann Vonnahme, Kenzie Ann Watt, Tim Robert Weible, Joseph Marlo Weitl, Helen Elizabeth Wiese, Nancy Kay Wiese (valedictorian), David Joseph Wurr, Craig Lawrence Zubrod
1973 former students: Mark Aiken, Mary Lou Bauer, Debra Espenhover, Steven Espenhover, Robert Fuller, Jeff Grimm, Randy Hargens, Deborah Hass, Colette Himley, Francis Hummer, Deana Hupp, Sharon Irlmeier, Kevin Jahn, Richard Klemme, Susan Kloewer, Carol Knudsen, Jane Moore, Jean Muhlbauer, Jamie Murray, Richard Musfeldt, Eugene Nepple, Cynthia Parkinson, Jennifer Pearson, Sherry Petersen, Bruce Pohlberg, Terry Saunders, Kathleen Shiltz, Arnold Shipps, Terry Shoemaker, Doyle Thompson, Rosemarie Wittrock, Peggy Wuebker
From the 2006 Manning Quasquicentennial history book
Rachel Steinke 1982 Plaza volunteer
Rachel Steinke on right - scanned from the Marion (Jochimsen) Ream collection
Glenn Steinke & LeRoy Rowedder 1974 Puck Implement employees
1978 Puck Implement Company employees
Esther Williams visiting with Dorothy Kusel at her 90th birthday party in 2013
So Lois & her husband Lowell raced over to that farm that was south of the Westside/Arcadia area and grabbed the pictures.
Then in 2016, Lois told me this story and about those old pix so I grabbed them and scanned them.
Here are some pix from that family collection that are identified but most not identified by first names.
I can't remember why I don't have them identified as Lois surely would have known
them, being her cousins and her age but I'm thinking I forgot to ask her for IDs with this particular bunch of pix...and now she is deceased so I can't go to her for help any more.
Henry Anthony and Emma Stammer
Emma (Stammer) and Henry Anthony
Back: Wilber Claus Anthony, Norma (Anthony) Lamaack - John and Emma's two children
Front: John William Anthony and wife, Emma Mathilda (Kuhl) Anthony
This picture was initially identified incorrectly in my database - Jim had the correct IDs...
This picture came from the Bernice (Mundt) Spiese collection I scanned in 2002.
She grew up in the same area northwest of Manning.
I asked her one day if she had old pictures
I could scan - she said not really.
After she died we found tons of pictures, so again, I was never able to ask her for IDs.
Lyle Anthony, WWII - also in the Henry Anthony folder of scans I made in 2016
Glen Anthony
Merle was not in the military and I don't have Glen's obituary.
I've asked my other helper, Connie, to see if she can find his obit which might help.
Henry & Emma Anthony anniversary - I think in Saunders Steak House
Back: Connie Anthony, Emma (Stammer) and Henry Anthony
Jim Anthony and Jerry Anthony, Barbara and Steve Anthony (Merle's kids)
Connie, Jim, and Jerry are Lyle's kids
Missing is the youngest Anthony grandchild, Alan (Glen's son).
He would have been living in California and was only 18 months old at the time
The rest of the pictures below are also in the Henry Anthony folder
I assume 2 of the Anthony boys playing their Steel Guitars
I assume 2 of the Anthony boys
Glen Anthony
Probably an Anthony
Lavonne (Schnoor) & Lyle Anthony
Merle & Berdella (Farley) Anthony
Glen Anthony
I know I sound like a broken record, but this feature is just one of hundreds of collections I've worked on and tried to get IDs.
I also know that many of those collections I've scanned over the decades have been thrown away or in the case with these Anthony pictures probably were NOT "saved from the fire..."
So bring your old pix & history to me so they will get preserved and archived BEFORE it's too late!
However, when I get so far behind with my web page features and other history projects, those occasional confrontations do take a toll on me like the one that occurred recently at the Hausbarn event. Usually it is never the same person, because they end up moving on to other things, lose interest, or are no longer involved in the community but I continue to capture events and activities long after most of my detractors are gone. While I'm no special person or strut around like I'm above everyone else, I wish they would have walked in my shoes over the decades, volunteering and getting absolutely no pay - to the contrary I've spent tens of thousands of my own dollars to be able to capture what I do.
I don't ask for nor seek thanks for anything I do or from anyone...I just want to go about my business and be able to record events in the community - something I really enjoy, not for myself but because I think it is important to document and record what we do in the community so it will be archived for future historical purposes.
I spent over 5 hours editing the photos and audio for the Memorial Day feature - yes, I'm that far behind...
Now I realize that most people don't care one way or the other that I post
this feature or any other features for that matter, but for those who do like to see/hear these events I capture, I'm happy to provide them - all for free and without any ads or popups
and no passwords or log-ins.
So if you are interested in Manning's 2023 Memorial Day services, please click on the link below.
I also added a some historical pictures to the Memorial Day program to help connect some of the younger folks who participated during the event.
Finding these pix & information in my database, then editing them, also takes extra time, and also why I can never catch up with all of my projects...
For those of you who take the time to look at the Memorial program, I hope you get a kick out of those historic photos and maybe learn something about those families.
Here is a project I've been working on for several weeks now - not counting the days it took previously to scan and edit those items.
It covers the Eich/Derner family history - items brought to me since the family descendants no longer know what to do with these things and they don't just want to throw
them away like so many families do.
I'm working with them so that their parents' items will end up in a future Manning Museum that a business person and I
are working on for the future.
This is by far the largest family collection that I've been entrusted with to digitize, archive, care for, and eventually put in the museum.
I generally don't scan items that
don't have any/much connection to Manning but since I have this large collection and I can connect it specifically to one of the family members, I took the extra time to scan all of the
items and for several booklets, I scanned them completely whereas normally I would just scan some sample pages and highlights.
So I hope you'll take some time to click on the various PDF files and actually read through the information...even if it might seem boring or appear to have no particular historical importance until you take the time to consider the WHOLE package that I compiled for this family.
I really should have stayed home and worked on my many history projects but as a voting citizen and tax payer it is also my duty to participate in meetings from time to time.
One of the reasons the Manning community gets so much accomplished is because there are a lot of VERY dedicated people and some even with aggressive tendencies but
we all need to stop and think - "If we don't have something good to say about a person then, keep it to yourself."
I've always thought this is a great song and from time to time is nice to play to remind us all that before you criticize/judge/opine about people...
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Joe South
If I could be you
And you could be me
For just one hour
If we could find a way
To get inside
Each other's mind, mm-hmm
If you could see you
Through my eyes
Instead of your ego
I believe you'd be
Surprised to see
That you've been blind, mm-hmm
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
Now, your whole world
You see around you
Is just a reflection
And the law of karma
Says you're gonna reap
Just what you sow, yes you will
So unless
You've lived the life
Of total perfection, mm-hmm
You'd better be careful
Of every stone
That you should throw, yeah
And yet we spend the day
Throwin' stones
At one another
'Cause I don't think
Or wear my hair
The same way you do, mm-hmm
Well, I may be
Common people
But I'm your brother
And when you strike out
And try to hurt me
It's a-hurtin' you, Lord have mercy
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
There are people
On reservations
And out in the ghettos
And brother, there
But for the grace of God
Go you and I, yeah, yeah
And if I only
Had the wings
Of a little angel, yeah
Don't you know I'd fly
To the top of a mountain
And then I'd cry, yeah
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Better walk a mile in my shoes
Drop whatcha doin'
Walk a mile in my shoes, yeah
Walk a mile in my shoes
Uh, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes, yeah
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
I was able to resolve the problem by converting the mp3 files from the recorder, with a converter program I downloaded - I just converted the mp3 file
from the recorder to the same mp3 version format and that fixed the problem.
Always amazing at how people can design technology and create programs that aren't more universally compatible.
I used my 2 "voice" mics to record the close-up singers and the other voice mic to pick up the general sound of the group.
Later on when I started video taping more community events I started purchasing better mics that would pick up sound/songs/singing in the distance.
The voice mics were more designed for close-up speaking.
I had one mic set for the individual vocalists to sing into and another mic
to pick up the group.
Oh if I only had the digital recorders back then that I have now!!!
BUT even with lower quality by today's standards - it is
really fun to listen to the performers, several who are no longer living.
The Swish used kazoos, washboards, kettles & pots for drums, and homemade instruments to make the music.
Ruth Hiatt is a RIOT when she sings Good ole Mountain Dew - if you knew her she was a character the way it is and loved to act in community plays, so she
was NEVER afraid to get up in front of the public!!!
Beer Barrel Polka
Roll Out the Barrell
Apple Peaches Pumkin Pie - Esther Williams
Wooden Heart - Darlene (Genzen) Vollstedt
Blue Skirt Waltz
Du Du liegst mir im Herzen - Ruth (Brady) Hiatt
Out Behind the Barn - Susan (Grundmeier) Schilling
Oh Lord, It's hard to be humble - Esther Williams
Lucille - Maureen (Williams) Halbur
Ei Ei Ei O Polka - Esther Williams
Mountain Dew - Ruth (Brady) Hiatt
Barbara Polka
Just Because - Darlene (Genzen) Vollstedt - duet with Esther Williams
In Heaven there is no beer - Beverly (Dalgety) Irlbeck
Hokey Pokey - Susan (Grundmeier) Schilling
Wabash Cannon Ball - Ruth (Brady) Hiatt with Arlo Pfannkuch on his "vacuum cleaner" whistle. Arlo sold vacuum cleaners and converted one to make whistle sounds.
Baby Face - Susan (Grundmeier) Schilling
Street Fair Polka
So Long
Harmony
Build a Mountain
After Dark, A Roving
Wait till the sun shines Nellie - Melvin Renze, Larry Genzen, ?3rd vocalist?
Good ole summertime
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Liederkranz: Claus Bunz, Nulle, Larry Schultes, Mike Ferneding, Tom Henderson, Gordell Lamp, Keith Kelderman, Richard Crandall, Lester Joens, Leroy Schultes, Kenneth Puck, Duane Monson, Arthur Rix, Ron Halbur, Raymond Pratt, Wesley Nulle, Warren Puck
If my mother was still living I'd probably try to set up anniversary reunions but without her life's experiences and knowledge of the area and the family, it would
be very difficult for me to set up.
Anyway, this is to let the relatives know of this amazing historical milestone.
Remember that Manning, Aspinwall, Templeton, Manilla, Gray, etc. weren't here at this point...they started popping up when the 3 railroads came through the
area (Manning) starting with the Northwestern in 1880, then the Milwaukee in 1881, followed by the Great Western in 1903.
So there has been a "lot of water under the bridge" since then.
Just think about it - no roads other than an occasional "Indian path" generally made by the roaming Bison here and there, no bridges, no trees for firewood or sawing for
construction, predator wolves, Prairie rattlesnakes, wetlands to get your Prairie schooners stuck in,
and Prairie grasses up to 6 feet tall as far as the eye could see - along with occasional Prairie fires - the nearest neighbor probably
miles away, and the only railroad was the Northwestern 15 miles north that traversed through what are now the towns of Arcadia, Vail, & Westside.
And a lot of people think they have it tough today!!!
Korean War Veterans continues
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.
"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.
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.
Please e-mail me about your Veteran questions manningveterans@davidkusel.com
1 Manning citizen served in the War of 1812
104 served in the Civil War
1 served in the Indian War
5 served in the Spanish American War
350+ served during WWI
650+ 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
29 paid the ultimate price with their lives defending the U.S. Flag
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
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.