Their Story
Leo Wilbur Manning was born October 10, 1915, in Clover Chapel, Illinois to Floyd and Bessie Wilburn Manning, he married Truth M. Carlson on July 4, 1944 in Keokuk, Iowa.
The couple had three daughters: Susan Manning of Urbana, IL. Jennifer Chapman of Greenwich, CT. and Hellen (Russell) Gutsche of Minneapolis, MN.; five grandchildren Christine Chapman, Scott Chapman, John Chapman, David Gutsche and Michael Gutsche. Col Manning had one brother Everett Manning of Rock Island, IL.; and one sister Eileen Leaf of East Moline, IL.
Col. Manning was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, his twin Cleo, Bernard, and Eugene Manning.
Leo was a farmer from 1934-1936. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1940. He then did Graduate study in Education at Illinois State University in 1940. He taught and was an Athletic Coach at Normal Jr. High School, Normal, IL. from 1939-1941.
He then served in the US Army from 1941 – 1970. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, and US Army Legion of Merit Award.
He came to Western Illinois University (WIU) in 1968 to begin the ROTC Program. From 1970-1971 he was a Counselor at the WIU Admissions Department. He was the Executive Director of the Society of Academic Achievement, in Quincy, IL from 1971-1987.
He was a member of the First Christian Church where he served as a deacon and held various church offices. He had been member of the Macomb Rotary Club since 1968, where he received the Paul Harris Award and was Past President. He was active with the Boy Scouts of America, where he oversaw all Explorer Posts in the Prairie Council. He was awarded the Silver Beaver, the Silver and Bronze Big Horn Awards and the District Award of Merit. He also held memberships in the National Parent Teachers Organization, Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Macomb American Legion, Macomb VFW, Scabbard and Blade, Spoon River College Area Advisory Committee and served on the Board of the McDonough County United Way. In April of 2000 he was awarded the D.A.R. National Medal of Honor.
Colonel Leo W. Manning passed away at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Illinois on March 27, 2007.
Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home, Macomb, Illinois 61455 Obituary Leo Wilbur Manning Accessed 10/9/2023