Melvin J. Ranniger

March 8, 1910 - December 29, 1986
PFC US Army

Parents: Henry Anna (Schmielau) Ranniger
Siblings: Eldren Popp, Myron, Wilma, Veronice Durbin

Manning Monitor article------ 1943

Melvin Ranniger in Florida
Melvin Ranniger writes from Zepherhills, Florida, extending greetings to all and thanking the Legion for "the good old Monitor." He says he is in the M.P. force in the sunshine state and likes winter fine there, although ill he would choose Iowa for home.
He writes that he may get a furlough soon and would like to see his friends back home in Manning. The air base where he is located has just been finished and there are about 500 men there.

He spent Christmas in a private home and adds they are treated very good by the people. For two months the M.P. just guarded the field where the men were at work. He expects to return to the main company at Orlando soon.

In closing he writes that he gets a big kick out of reading the letters from others in the service.

MELVIN JOHN MEEVES RANNIGER

Melvin John Meeves Ranniger, 76, of Bayard died Monday, December 27, 1986, at Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Des Moines following a long illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, January 2, at the Ohde Funeral Home in Bayard with Pastor Jeffrey Blakely of Ascension Lutheran Church In Coon Rapids officiating. Burial will be in the Manning City Cemetery. Casket-bearers will be Lester Jorgensen, Melvin Durst, Terry Ritchie, Arnold Lloyd, Burdette Laughery, and RH. Compton.

Military graveside rites will be conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3517 and Emil Ewoldt Post No. 22, American Legion of Manning.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters: Elvira Gadient, Wilma Ranniger, and Thelma Ranniger; and a brother, Leonard Ranniger.

Mr. Ranniger is survived by four sisters: Eldren Popp of Avoca, Verena Lingle of Denison, LaJune Majerus of Des Moines, and Veronice Durbin of Jefferson; a brother. Myron Ranniger of Bayard and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Mr. Ranniger was born on March 8, 1910, near Manning, a son of Henry and Anna (Schmielau) Ranniger. He lived in the Manilla area and received his education there.

He worked as a farmhand near Botna, Manilla, and Manning.

In 1942, he joined the U.S. Army during World War II.

After he returned, he joined his father in farming operations near Coon Rapids. After his parents died, he and his brother, Myron, farmed for a few years and Melvin then retired and did mechanical work in Bayard. He was a member of the Emil Ewoldt Post No. 22, American Legion of Manning, and he was baptized a Lutheran.

Melvin Ranniger is buried in the Manning Cemetery.
Section E Row #2 south - north.