Wise, Manuel 'Manny'

Manuel “Manny” Wise, 84, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Services: 3 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Leonard Ranson. Family will meet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday June, 8, at the funeral home. Burial: Linwood Cemetery at a later date.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Cedar Rapids; two sons, Randy (Brenda) Wise of Sun City Hilton Head, S.C., and Dave (Susan) Wise of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica), Chris, Michelle, Matt, Jessica and Nicole Wise; one great-grandchild, Olive Wise; two brothers, Richard (Nancy) Wise of Cedar Rapids and Melvin Wise of Sun City, Ariz.; and three sisters-in-law, June, Liz and Julie Wise, all of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded by his parents; four sisters, Phyllis (Herman) Wennermark, Thelma (Charles) Humphreys, Evelyn (Richard) Humphreys and infant, Ruth Jean Wise; and three brothers, Leland, Leonard and Lawrence Wise.

Manny was born Aug. 30, 1927, in Athol, S.D., son of John I. and Luella (Myers) Wise. He moved to Iowa when he was 5 and graduated in 1946 from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids, where he played third base and pitched for the high school team. His team was crowned Iowa's first state baseball champions in 1945. Manny served in the United States Army from 1946-1947, then worked at Link-Belt Speeder/ FMC for five years.

In May 1951, he married Dorothy Amos at Cedar Rapids Cedar Christian Church. Manny joined the Cedar Rapids Fire Department in January 1952, retiring as captain in June 1980, after 28 years of service. Manny and Dorothy spent their winters in Sun City, Ariz., for the last 25 years.

Manny was a very humble, loving man who cared deeply for his family. He especially enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren.

For 60 years, he was an active member of Cedar Christian Church, where he was a deacon. He most recently attended Cedar Hills Community Church.

Manny was a former coach for kids league baseball for five years and won three city championships. He enjoyed fishing, sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes, hunting, playing and watching sports. Manny also enjoyed fixing things and always had a project going. Manny cared about people and formed many lifelong friendships which he always treasured.

Memorials can be made in memory of Manny to Cedar Hills Community Church or St. Luke's Hospice.

Please sign the online guest book for Manny at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published June 7, 2012 in The Gazette