Connie Maneman

Constance "Connie" Louise Maneman, age 85, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral Mass will take place Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Varina, Iowa. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will take place Monday, March 14, 2022 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Connie Maneman, the daughter of Bernard “Con” and Pearl (Kleemeier) Triplett, was born on August 15, 1936 in Lavinia, IA. The oldest of seven children, Connie attended school at Rockwell City until the family moved to the Varina area in 1952. In 1954, she graduated from St. Columbkille’s Catholic School, after which she worked at the Bell Telephone Company in Storm Lake. On December 27, 1956, Connie married Claire “Dick” Maneman in Varina. Shortly thereafter they moved to Omaha where Dick worked at the stockyards and Connie worked once again for Bell Telephone. In 1959 they moved to the family farm near Varina. The couple was blessed with 4 children: Shelly, Cindy, Bob & DeEtte, who lovingly called her MoJo. Connie was a very active lady! She was a 4-H leader for 10 years, sang in the Varina church choir and was a member of St. Columbkille Altar Society, CD of A and St. Mary’s Guild. She was also an excellent cook and could bake like no other mother! Her specialties included carrot bread, strawberry shortcake, homemade cinnamon rolls, fresh strawberry and mulberry pies. Connie never made a single batch of anything! Recipes were usually multiplied by at least 3 and upwards to 12 just in case a neighbor/friend needed to be fed or treated. Connie also tended a huge garden. “Garden Parties” were a weekly summer event for the Maneman clan. Attendance was required and everyone was present to pull weeds and pick the latest crop of fresh fruits and vegetables. These parties usually ended with the whole family piling into the car to head to the Newell DQ for maid rites & ice cream cones. Saturday mornings were always spent listening to the Albert City Polka Time on the radio, while frying chickens and cleaning the house under Mrs. Pinesol’s supervision. Dick and Connie were very involved in their kid’s functions and happily attended every event they were ever involved in. Connie was a stay-at-home mom and farm wife for many years. She also held numerous jobs over the years including the Varina Elevator, Newell Nursing Home, Sports Rehab, B.V. Stationery, Methodist Manor and Professional Hearing in Storm Lake. She finally decided to retire from her “full-time job” at the ripe young age of 80 in 2017. Her work ethic was beyond belief and she instilled this in her kids whether they liked it or not. The only time she sat down and stayed awake was when she attended her grandkids many sporting, art and music events. She was their #1 fan and loudest cheerleader. It was nothing for her to share, with anyone who would listen, just how proud she was of her grandkids who called her “G-ma” for short. She also spent endless hours with her nearest and dearest friends playing card games and taking tour bus trips to Branson. Attending the Spencer Fair was always at the top of their list and seldom missed. Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Shelly (Brian) Smith of Nixa, MO; Cindy (Brian) Wells of Fonda, IA; Bob (Carol) Maneman of Fonda, IA: and DeEtte Underwood of Lakeside, IA; grandchildren: Jared Smith of Los Angelos, CA; Abbey (Johnny) Lukehart of Huxley, IA; Tyler (Katie) Wells of Bondurant, IA; Brianna (Mike) Meschede of Ankeny, IA; Keisha (Nate) Boevers of Newell, IA; Renee Maneman of Fonda, IA; Christian Underwood of Storm Lake, IA; Baylee Underwood of Storm Lake, IA; great-grandchildren: Hannah, Lane & Cora Lukehart; Roslyn & Piper Wells; Nora & Crew Boevers; siblings: Trent Triplett of Dayton, OH; Margaret O’Connor of Newell, IA; Ward (Dee) Triplett of Peoria, AZ; Wilbur (Karen) Triplett of Storm Lake, IA; and Steve (Jane) Triplett of North Liberty, IA; sisters-in-law: Ione Bojanski of Omaha, NE.; Mary Lou (Dick) Naughton of Marshalltown, IA.; Georgia (Bob) Goltl of Omaha, NE.; Karen (Mark) Hakenkamp of Lincoln, NE; Jane (Len) Shaw of Coralville; numerous nieces and nephews; and she also had several “self-proclaimed” grandchildren who called her Connie “G-ma”. Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Claire “Dick” Maneman; her parents: Bernard “Con” and Pearl (Kleemeier) Triplett; in-laws: George and Rose Maneman; brother: Allan Triplett; brothers-in-law: Robert, Jim and Bert Maneman, Hank Steadman, Bill Bojanski and Denny Bittner and sisters-in-law: Ruth Maneman, Alice Steadman, Rae Bittner, Mary Ellen Maneman and Eileen Maneman. There’s no doubt they’re all together playing their favorite card games of 500 and pinochle. Connie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Connie Maneman

August 15, 1936 - March 10, 2022