Importance of history
By Dave Kusel
Manning Monitor April 12, 2007

Quite often I hear from different people "what's the big deal about the past and recording our history." Some times I even hear "who cares" which is their right. But I have to disagree with them and the message below is a perfect example of why it is important to record/preserve our history. Since 2001 I have maintained a message board on my web page called the "Manning Exchange." http://www.davidkusel.com/forums/manning1/index.html

On April 4, 2007, the following message was posted by Sheri Snyder who is the niece of Gene Strathman, a WWII soldier who was killed in a Liberator bomber plane explosion over Alaskan airspace while serving the U.S Army Air Force. "Gene was my uncle. I never knew him. He was my mother, Lavonee Joyce and my aunt Donna's precious older brother - I know the legacy of his life, know my grandmother grieved for him the remainder of her life. Anyone who knew him, has something to share, my 80-something year old mother would rejoice in the memories." Sheri Snyder

Gene Strathman standing on the northwest corner of Main and Third Street.

Gene and 24 other Manning area soldiers gave their lives for our country. If not for their ultimate sacrifice along with the millions of other soldiers and Veterans who survived the wars we wouldn't be able to freely share our memories and record our history like we do now. Many other governments around the world dictate what is recorded for their histories.

Historical crossover
Sometimes it is hard to separate one historical subject from the another. The next picture shows Gene with 2 other MHS graduates. Several MHS students enlisted in the service during WWII while still in high school and then came back after the war to finish their high school education. One student, Kenneth Pfannkuch, comes to mind.

Warren Bartels MHS 1936, Gene Strathman MHS 1941, Eugene Shipp MHS 1943 I often wonder what a person was thinking the moment their picture was taken. I wonder if Gene had an inkling as to what the next few years would bring in his life when this picture was taken on May 23, 1941

Last day as seniors at MHS: Gene Strathman, Virginia (Greteman) Wiese (laying down) and Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel

Ironic timing
Another important factor for preserving history is to help connect people who have not been in touch with friends for decades, even a lifetime. I recently received this e-mail from Jay Musfeldt. "Hi Dave, We just got our March 29 issue of the Monitor. Now here's a story for you regarding the Campbell family.

Before I left Salem, Oregon, I had a book signing at a Lutheran Church. An elderly man named Andy Anderson bought a copy since, like me, he had grown up on a farm too. He phoned me about 2 days later. He was really excited, since he had once lived on a farm near Gray. He knew a number of the family names mentioned in ECHOES. He asked me if I knew the Campbell family. Well, the March 29 Lincoln No. 2 story in the Monitor showed the Campbell kids he mentioned. As a child, he had been friends with Mary Campbell and her brothers.

He said he'd really like to be able to get in touch with any of the Campbells one more time and I said that I'd check around and see what I could find out. I'd really like to send him a copy of that issue of the Monitor if one is still available. I'd also like to give him an address or way of contacting that family if that would be possible. He was particularly interested in contacting Mary Campbell. Andy may even have some additional information regarding Lincoln No. 2." Jay Musfeldt

Coincidences
It so happens that Mary Campbell graduated from MHS with Gene Strathman in 1941. She married Kenneth Keat MHS 1940.

Another Veteran and Manning graduate, Donn Kelsey MHS 1947, has recently been helping me with some pictures and information. I wanted to confirm that this next picture is Ida (Meyers) Kleespies. Ida was a sister to Tina Meyers, Mrs. Frank Hoffmann (Hilma), Henry E. Meyers, Marvin M. Meyers, Alfred Meyers, and Mrs. R.B. Kelsey (Florence).

Ida Meyers wife of Leo Kleespies They had two children, Virgil and June. Virgil married Florence Niell and had one daughter. Virgil became President of Morrell Meat Packing Co. He also published over 1,000 (mostly) political cartoons, during his second career. June married Ray Clark and had 3 boys.

Country School
The Meyers' family history leads into country school history. Robert Meyers, son of Alfred Meyers, recently sent me this school information about Warren Township No. 5 which was 1 mile east of Manning on 141 just north of the old Lester Wiese corner. Most people will think of this school as Ewoldt Township No. 5 but that is another story/mystery I'm working on which will be addressed in the future school history book.

Ellen (Coleman) Hoffman (Mrs. Jul) donated this picture to the Orval Fink & Art Rix display in the Manning Library.

In 1905 these students attended Warren No. 5: Ida Meyers, Tina Meyers, Henry Meyers, Hilma Meyers, Marvin "Mike" Meyers, Eva Armstrong, George Ryel, Lester Ryel, Maud Ryel, Harvey Freetly, Hazel Conner, Hazel Babcock, Agnes Babcock, Maudie Babcock, and Sarah Babcock. Jessie Atherton MHS 1901 was their teacher. Martin Swearingen was President; S. Best, Secretary; George Dietz, Treasurer; Henry Meyers, Director.

1907 students: Tina Meyers, Henry Meyers, Marvin Meyers, Hilma Meyers, Alfred Meyers, Leona Wiese, Lester Wiese, Adelia Jensen, Ella Jensen, Annie Jensen, Clara Jensen, Grant Harding, Ada Kittler, Martha Kittler, Elsie Hockett, Alva Hockett, Eva Armstrong, Harvey Freetly, Katie Struve, Peter Struve, Maggie Struve, William Struve. Louella Wheeler MHS 1904 was the teacher. Ed Wiese was President; S. Best, Secretary; J. Lamp, Treasurer; William Armstrong, Director.

Recently Ellen Hoffman sent me some information about students who attended this school. Maggie Struve (Margaret Struve Coleman Hinze) was Ellen's mother who was 7 in 1907. William Struve was 14 in 1907 and was Marge Stahl's father. Marge worked at Puck Implement. Lois Struve (Mrs. Lyle Hansen) a sister to Marge Stahl lives in Denison. Peter Struve was 16 years old in 1907 and is Donald Struve's dad. Catherina "Katie" Struve was 12 years old in 1907. She died at 16 years of age from Trichinosis caused by eating undercooked pork. The Struve family lived where Jack & Wava Lorenzen use to live along Highway 141 east of Manning. Alvia (Alva) Hockett was Gerald Hockett's sister. Her married name was Alvia Stern. Her daughter, Harriet Stern, lived in the Manning Plaza for years.