Carl Manke

Carl E. Manke, age 86 of Cottage Grove, passed away at home on April 11, 2015.

Visitation will be Thurs, April 16, 2016 from 4-7 pm with a memorial service at 7 pm at Kok Funeral Home, 7676-80th Street S., Cottage Grove. Interment will be in the Cottage Grove Cemetery, Friday, April 17 at 2 pm.

Carl Emil Manke was born October 1, 1928 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Paul and Amelia (Steingas) Manke. He grew up in Old Cottage Grove and went on to serve in the US Army between 1951 and 1953. Following his honorable discharge he started working for the Washington County Public Works Department where he was employed for 35 years. On June 15, 1957 he was married to Norma Jean Fritz at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church near Cottage Grove. When Carl was in his 30's he started working with his dad at the Cottage Grove Cemetery, a place he devoted much of his effort for the past 53 years. He was an avid reader and loved his maps. Carl lived by this motto: "Do a good job, do it well and be honest."

Carl is survived by wife Norma Jean; two sons, Carl (Vicky) and Alan; daughters, Lynn (Leon) Langenfeld and Keri (Billy) Johanson; 9 grandchildren, Amie, Ashley, Alex, Samantha, Deven, Alisha, David, Tricia and Blake; and 8 great-grandchildren, Elijah, Zachary, Xander, Wyatt, Dylan, Leland, Mason and Kellen; nephew, Michael (Sandy) Boeseneilers; honorary family; Nathan Johnson, Michelle & Gene Mueller, Randy Lee, Daniel Bies and Evan Mountin. He is preceded in death by three children, Tami Manke, Lori Keller and Paul Manke; sister Evelyn Boeseneilers.