Florence Margaret Manning

Florence Margaret Manning was born to Wallace and Elizabeth (Bessie) Blanchard Bacon on August 13, 1918 in Keokuk, Iowa and passed away on January 4, 2012 at Rolling Green Village Nevada, Iowa. Florence was one of five children. When she was a year old, her parents traveled to China as missionaries. In 1923 Florence, her father, and new baby sister returned to the United States. Florence graduated from Fort Smith High School where she spent her school years. She continued her education at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa where she lived with her grandfather and grandmother Charles and Margaret Blanchard. While at Drake, she met Ralph Manning, Sr. They were married on November 10, 1939 in Ames, IA. She graduated from Drake with a degree in English but chose to be a full time mother of her five children and did not pursue a teaching career. In 1941, they moved to Spencer, Iowa where they farmed for nearly 50 years. Two of the focal points of Florence's life were her family and her church. Florence was a faithful Christian, a dedicated wife, a devoted mother, and a loving grandmother. Her life values and living out of her beliefs were instructive to her family and blessings to all who knew her. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are spread across the world, including Iowa, Minnesota, California, Arizona, New York, Arkansas, Nevada, Ohio, Japan, Washington, Georgia, Oregon, Australia, North Carolina, and Florida. Florence's children and extended family have ably served their country in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, the Persian Gulf, the Philippines, and numerous other places as members of the military and in social and government services. Florence was a member of the Faith Pentecostal Church of Spencer, Iowa. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, led Bible studies, and helped coordinate the services at Sunset Apartments while living there. Florence will be remembered for her beautiful singing voice and her poetry that painted pictures with words. Her poetry has been published for others to enjoy. She often shared her poems with those who were in need, those who were grieving, and those who were celebrating a happy occasion. It seemed to lighten loads and make occasions special. She was preceded in death by her mother (Bessie), two sisters (Lillian and Kathryne), and a brother (Wallace) all of whom died in China and her father (Wallace), her stepmother (Effie), and her husband Ralph. Survivors include a sister, Betty Brown of Corpus Christi, TX, three sons and their wives: Morris and Sandra of Silver Bay, MN; Ralph and Carolyn of Nevada, IA; Paul and Juanita of San Diego, CA, and two daughters and their husbands; Jane and Charles Winkenwerder of Green Valley, AZ; and Joan and Rick Beamish of Tucson, AZ; 15 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

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