Jeanette Manker

Jeanette G. Manker, 77, of Sioux City died peacefully Saturday, March 7, 2015, surrounded by her family at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Jay Denning of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.
Jeanette was born on April 19, 1937, in Sioux City, the daughter of Edward and Bertha (Cash) Leffler. Jeanette lived in Sioux City all of her life.
On Nov. 25, 1960, she was united in marriage to Marvin Manker. To this union, which lasted more than 50 years, four daughters were born, Deb (Ron) Speckmann, Sheryl (Clint) Herbert, Sandy (Gary) Reuter and Cynthia (Don) Wiederin. The family made their home in Sioux City, where Marvin still resides. After her girls were all in school, Jeanette worked as a lunch lady and in the before- and after-school programs at Whittier School, where she was known as the "Whittier Angel." Jeanette worked at the school for more than 20 years. During the summer, she also worked at the Y for the babysitting program.
In Jeanette's spare time she liked doing crossword puzzles, playing Yahtzee, watching NASCAR, and collecting Coca Cola memorabilia, angels, Beanie Babies, and porcelain dolls, some of which were made by her sister, Evelyn. But most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and receiving surprise phone calls from them. Jeanette loved to talk on the phone.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Marvin; her daughters, Deb, Sheryl, Sandy, and Cynthia; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Evelyn (Rich) Wilen, and Norma (Dennis) Eisenhauer; one brother, Eddie (Clarene) Leffler; and many nieces and nephews.
Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents; her twin brother, John; her sisters, Linda Miller, and Arlene Hard; and her grandson, Nathaniel Speckmann.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Bryan and Cory Reuter, Blake and Austin Speckmann, Jacob Manker-Wiederin and Zachary Manker-Winn. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons, Josh Reuter and Colin Speckmann.