"So God Made a Farmer" Paul Harvey


He had a great smile and chuckle - I've known him most of my life.
We custom windrowed for the Wanninger family for decades, drilled their soybeans when they started No-tilling, I went to school with his boys, played on the school basketball team with Jeff...got to know Billy when Manning had its "Good Ole Days" celebration in the early 1970s.
He was fun to visit with and, again, another Veteran I had planned on interviewing to get more details about his service (Military Police Dog) but time ran out...
The Wanninger family was VERY active in the community and some of the pictures I'll post will give you an idea of how much.

BILLY WANNINGER
November 20, 1933 - September 2, 2022

Visitation on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Manning, Iowa
Mass of the Christian Burial on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Manning, Iowa with Reverend Michael Cronin, Celebrant
Mass Servers - Audrey & Bill Muhlbauer
Lectors - T.J. Augustine & Rachel Wanninger
Eucharistic Minister - Lois Croghan
Gift Bearers - Karli Funke & Rachel Wanninger
Music Selections "Here I Am, Lord", "Amazing Grace", "On Eagle's Wings", "How Great Thou Art" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" By the Sacred Heart Choir.
Anne Muhlbauer, Organist
Casket Bearers - Billy's Grandchildren: Robin Streigle, Troy Wanninger, Grant Wanninger, Angel Mundt, Keaton Wanninger, Karli Funke, Dani Augustine, Holly Wanninger, Scott Wanninger, and Rachel Wanninger
Interment with Military Honors at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Manning, Iowa by U.S. Army Honor Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517 and the American Legion Post 22
Ohde Funeral Home in Manning is in charge of arrangements.


William "Billy" Wanninger Jr., son of William and Tresa (Fuchs) Wanninger, Sr., was born November 20, 1933, south of Templeton, Iowa. He attended country school at Cameron Township in Audubon County and then at Gray. Billy entered the U.S. Army in January of 1954 and spent 15 months in Korea with the 8125th Sentry Dog Battalion. He was honorably discharged in December of 1955.

On July 28, 1956, Billy was united in marriage with Luella Reiman of Roselle at Holy Angels Church in Roselle. Four sons: Jeff, Kevin, Keith, and Jim, were born to this family. Billy worked one year for Ocken Construction in Templeton before he started farming north of Templeton and then west of Halbur. In 1962, they moved north of Aspinwall where they made their home for 35 years and raised their four sons. In 1970, Billy received the Manning Jaycees award for Farmer of the Year. He raised hogs and cattle until his retirement. He also sold Renze seed corn and soybeans for 50 years. In December of 1997, Billy and Lue moved to their new home in Manning.

Billy was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Manning, the Manning Knights of Columbus and VFW Post 3517 in Manning. He was a big Hawkeyes and Cubs fan. Billy enjoyed life to the fullest with his wife and family.

In June of 2022, Billy was diagnosed with cancer and passed away peacefully on Friday, September 2, 2022, at Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, at the age of 88 years, 9 months, and 13 days.

Billy is survived by his wife, Lue Wanninger of Manning; sons: Jeff (RaeAnn) Wanninger of Manning; Kevin (Joni) Wanninger of Carroll; Keith (Pam) Wanninger of Ankeny; Jim (Joanna) Wanninger of Johnston; Ten grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren: a great-great-granddaughter; two sisters: Pauline Irlmeier of Templeton; Sally (Harry) Reiman of Carroll; Four half-siblings: Lois (Pete) Croghan of Manning; Mark (Bonnie) Wanninger of Manning; Patty (Kevin) Schultz of Carroll; Teresa (Tom) Wurr of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and a sister-in-law Pat Zubrod of Templeton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Marilyn Zubrod and Delores Lidbeck; two sisters-in-law, Val Page and Marlene Stecher; and five brothers-in-law, Merlyn Zubrod, Roy Lidbeck, Richard Stecher, Don Reiman, and Duane Irlmeier.