POET donates and plants trees at Library park

 

Exeter Public Library recently received a donation of two flowering trees.  The trees were donated by POET Bioprocessing in Fairmont in recognition of Arbor Day and Earth Day.

Three POET employees planted the trees in the Exeter Public Library Park along with assistance from fifteen children that attend the libraries after school program.

Pictured with the students are the POET employees (in POET shirts) from the left: Marci Robinson, Thor Johnson and Adam Chrans.

Obituary Louisa D. Manning

 

Louisa LaVonne (Schwab) Manning was born on September 4, 1927, to John Oran and Margaret Elizabeth (Myers) Schwab at her parents’ home two miles west of Exeter, Nebraska. She died at Heritage Crossings in Geneva on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at the age of 95 years, 9 months, and 16 days.

Her grandfather, Philip Schwab, homesteaded across the road in 1871. Some of the history of her Grandma Melissa Whitaker Schwab’s family is on the monument in front of the Fillmore County Courthouse.

When asked as a small child what her name was, Louisa said something that sounded like “Wee-wee,” and her Dad never called her anything else. Her favorite place was outside or being in the barn with her dog, “Ernie.” She continued to enjoy dogs all of her life.

Louisa attended rural school District 91 through the fourth grade and Exeter Public School where she graduated with the class of 1944. She enrolled in classes at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln and pledged Alpha Gamma Delta as a sophomore.

Louisa took the bus to work at the Havelock Goodyear plant the summer of 1945 working to cover WWII B-24 bombers’ fuel tanks with seven layers of rubber to protect them from bullets. The tanks were bigger than caskets. She was a real “Rosie the Riveter!”

Louisa received her teaching certificate in 1946 and taught fourth grade in Sutton, Nebr. for one year. She had 20 students and remembered many of their names more than 70 years later. Louisa traveled to New York State the summer of 1947 to visit Schwab relatives and the graves of ancestors.

Louisa was baptized and confirmed by Rev. Samuel Beechner at the Exeter Methodist Church on April 9, 1939, in the same class as her future husband, Richard Manning. They were married in an 8:00 p.m. ceremony on Fri., November 14, 1947, at the church. A wedding dance followed in Burress on the snowy and sleety night.

The couple lived on the “Abbott” place east of the Fairmont Airfield without electricity, plumbing or telephone. They moved into Dick’s parents’ home next to the Manning Grain Company headquarters in Burress in Nov. 1953 and then into the house they built in the east “suburbs” of Burress in May 1960.

Louisa loved her home and family and enjoyed caring for their large garden and lawn, sewing, and canning. Her wedding memory album showed that her greatest ambition was “to be a good cook.” Dick said he taught Louisa how to make grilled cheese sandwiches, but it was noted that she baked her first pie, an apple, for her folks’ 30th anniversary three weeks after their wedding to serve with the rabbit that Dick had shot. Family and friends were beneficiaries of Louisa's great meals and baking: cloverleaf and cinnamon rolls, breads, kolaches, cookies, pies, and many angel food birthday cakes with seven-minute frosting. Her frozen sweet corn was priceless.

Louisa was a long-time member of the Exeter and Geneva UMW and American Legion Auxiliary Post #218, serving in various offices. She was a past member of the Exeter Women’s Club. Since building their home and moving to Geneva in March 1992, Louisa had volunteered for Save for American at the elementary school, at the Red Cross Bloodmobile, and at Heritage Crossings. Louisa and Dick enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels together. They established the Richard and Louisa Manning Scholarship Fund in 2008 to benefit Exeter-Milligan and Fillmore Central graduates attending a University of Nebraska school. They also made gifts in 2009 to the Nebraska and Exeter Area Community Foundations.

In later years, Louisa and Dick continued to enjoy their new home, computers, reading, tending their flowers and garden, and attending their grandchildren’s activities and events. They traveled extensively. Some of their trips were by small plane piloted by Dick, including to Las Vegas and Canada. Louisa and Dick celebrated their 50th anniversary on Nov. 9, 1997, with a buffet dinner at Chances R Restaurant in York and their 60th anniversary and 80th birthdays with an open house buffet at Stone Creek in McCool Junction on November 17, 2007.

Dick died on October 13, 2011, following surgery in October of 2010, and Louisa could no longer care for her home and yard. She moved just down “J” St. to her Heritage Crossings assisted-living apartment on June 10, 2013. Her dear friend there was Dick's cousin, Jim Biba. Louisa moved to skilled nursing on November 18, 2015.

Louisa was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Philip and Waverly (infant); husband, Richard; and daughter-in-law, Roxanne Manning.

She leaves to cherish memories and gratitude for her life her children Jim of Lincoln; Mary Jane (Ken) Havick of Omaha; Margie (Chris) Hayes of Osceola; Scott of Omaha, and Don (Joan), of Burress; eleven grandchildren Leslie (Pat) Huggins, Kirk (Elisha) Havick, Amy (Justin) Mollak, Kara (Brad) Geelan, Jena (Jeff) Depue, Austin and Landon (Jamie) Hayes, Megan and Madeline Manning, Rachel (Robert) Powell, Jr., and Shane Manning; fifteen great-grandchildren Brooks, Brynn, and Blake Havick, Nora, Levi, and Rio Depue, Elle, Luke, and Gavin Mollak, Maggie, Kora, and Kylie Geelan, Benjamin Powell, and Layla and Maxwell Hayes. Also surviving are many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends and neighbors, including members of the Burress Belles group.

Louisa's message to all who knew her: “Thanks for being a player in my life. I’ve been very lucky!”

Mark 14:8: “She has done what she could.”

Throwback Thursday 06/16/2013

 

06/16/2013

Death Notice: Carla Due
(October 2, 1913 - June 16, 2013)

Funeral services for Carla will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cordova. Pastor Brenda Pfeifly will officiate the service. 

 

 Two Exeter-Milligan Seniors are getting ready to play in the 36th annual Eight-Man All-Star Football Game on the East Team.  Blake Papik and Robbie Androyna will play in the game at Hastings College

Exeter-Milligan Seniors Jackie Luzum and Taylor Erdkamp were chosen to play on the winning South team in the Tribune Volleyball Classic last Thursdays. 

 

Kathy Stych became the Postmaster in Exeter. Stych was the Postmaster in Cordova from 1998 to the present and filled in at the post office for a number of years before becoming postmaster.

 

Trystan Brandt, son of Roger and Dianne Brandt of Exeter, participated in the Hershey's Track and Field state finals held at Grand Island on June 8. He received 1^st place in the standing long jump, 2^nd place in the 100m dash, and 2^nd place in the 200m dash in the13 and 14 year old age division. Trystan qualified to attend the event by receiving 1^st place in the standing long jump, 100m dash, and 200m dash at the district meet held at York in May. Top finishers at the state meet will be notified in mid-July if they are selected to participate on the regional team at the Hershey's North American finals held at Hershey, PA in August.

Death Notice Louisa L. Manning

 

A Funeral Service for Louisa will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Exeter United Methodist Church in Exeter, Nebraska. Pastor Murry Johnston will preside over the Funeral Service.

A Graveside Service will be held in the Exeter Cemetery following the Funeral Service.

Public visitation will be on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva.

Quilt of Valor Presented

 

John McCabe is surrounded by family after being draped in a Quilt of Valor.  Picutred behind him are (from the left): David Crabtree, Jane Drake, Cindy McCabe, Beth Crabtree, Judy Dinneen and Richard Crabtree.

 

A Quilt of Valor was presented to former Exeter resident John McCabe at St. Stephens Parish Hall over Memorial Day weekend.

Pat Becker, a member of the Quilt of Valor program, presented the quilt to McCabe and he was draped in the quilt by his daughter Beth Crabtree and grandson David Crabtree.

The quilt was pieced and bound by Becker and quilted by Carol (Votipka) Harris.

Becker explained that the program was started in 2003 when QOV founder Catherine Roberts’ son was deployed in Iraq.  A dream gave her the idea that quilts from home would be comforting to those serving and so she began to make them to award to active military along with veterans.   

Roberts created a non-profit foundation to guide the project.  Since 2003 over 345,645 quilts have been awarded to those who have served.

It was Roberts’ dream that the quilts would be recognized as a “civilian purple heart.”  

Becker added in presenting the quilt, “As a grateful nation to thank you for your time in military service. . .and for putting your life on hold for serving your country.”

McCabe entered Air Force officer training after graduating from UNL.  He attended training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  In 1962 he graduated as a second lieutenant with a weapons control career field and duty assignment at Hancock Field in Syracuse, New York.

He then spent several months training at Biloxi, Miss before returning to Syracuse.  After two years at Syracuse and work as a part of NORAD, McCabe was reassigned to New Ulm West Germany.  He was a part of the Detachment 2 of the 601^st Tactical Control Squadron in Eurpoe

Not only did his location change but also the operation was somewhat altered. In the US McCabe had been focused on protected American soil against aerial attack but in Europe he trained to maintain a tactical air superior force. Using radar and a simple non-computerized control room his unit conducted annual field tests to maintain their skills.

McCabe had met the love of his life, Cindy, in Syracuse and so before leaving the service they married and spent three additional years in Europe while welcoming a daughter to their family.

McCabe now resides in Muncie, Ind.

Exeter Alumni Class of 1953 and 1968

Above: Representing the Exeter High School class of 1953 is Marie “Rasmussen” McCormick.

Below: The Exeter High School Class of 1968 pictured from the left are: Ann “Volkmer” Copple, Dick Drummond, Cheryl “Styskal” Luzum, Bernie Stych, Ann “Songster” Cahill and Bob Becker.