Wilbur Manor, 89, of Perry died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at the Eden Acres campus of the Perry Lutheran Homes.
Wilbur Dean Manor was born Sept. 28, 1934, in Bayard, Iowa, to John M. Manor and Pauline A (Theulen) Manor.
He spent most of his childhood in Bayard and a short time in Scranton, Jefferson and Churdan.
After graduating from high school, Wilbur went to Iowa State University to study electrical engineering. He later went on to several electronics schools with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On February 1, 1954 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Wilbur became a radar bomb technician during the Korean War. He was first stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi and later stationed in Puerto Rico. Wilbur was honorably discharged on Oct. 19, 1957, at Manhattan Beach Air Force Station in Brooklyn, New York.
After returning to Iowa, Wilbur moved to Des Moines in 1960. He met the love of his life, Alice Jeanette Pille, and the two were united in marriage on Oct. 26, 1963, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown, Iowa. The couple was blessed with a son, Paul, and a daughter, DeeAnn.
The family lived in West Des Moines until 1994, when they moved to Perry.
Wilbur worked for the FAA as an electronic tech for the majority of his career.
He loved spending time with his family and friends and going fishing.
Wilbur was good at anything he put his hands to, like woodworking and restoring cars.
He was an active member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Pauline; his wife of 53 years, Alice; and two brothers, Duane Manor and Michael Manor.
Wilbur will always be in the hearts of his son, Paul (Tilly) Manor of Des Moines; daughter, DeeAnn (Bill) Gaspar of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Brittany Manor, Noah (Kendra) Gaspar and Jacob Gaspar; great-grandchildren, Mila, Emma and Sunny Mae; brother, Richard (Kathy) Manor; sisters-in-law, Margaret Manor and Linda Manor; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and many friends.
A Mass of Christian burial was held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry, followed by a luncheon in the Hastings Funeral Home. Interment with military honors took place at the Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines, Iowa.
