We invite you to celebrate the life of Leanne Manning, either in person or via livestream, on April 17, 2021 at 2pm at the Grace United Methodist Church in Crete, Nebraska. 1245 Juniper Avenue, Crete, NE 68333. Masks are recommended for you and others safety.  Memorials in honor of Leanne may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, the Buffet Cancer Center, Nebraska 4-H foundation, and Audubon Spring Creek Prairie. Final resting place will be at Kramer Cemetery in Kramer at a later date.   Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services, Milford, is entrusted with the care and arrangements. If unable to attend the service on Saturday, video of the service can be watched by linking on to our Facebook page @ Lauber Moore Funeral Home. 

Leanne Marie (Brown) Manning was born to Rex and Betty (Novak) Brown in York, Nebraska on August 12, 1962. She grew up on a farm near Fairmont, NE helping the family with all the chores. She mostly helped her mother by cooking, baking, raising chickens, and putting up produce and fruit. They worked hard. Leanne graduated from Fairmont High School in May 1980, and from there enrolled in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Leanne graduated from UNL in May of 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Education and Family Resources, and has been an avid Husker fan ever since. Later she attended Kansas State University and received her master’s degree in Family Life Education and Consultation in December of 1985. From a young age, Leanne wanted to be an Extension Educator, and she fulfilled this dream when she started as an Extension Educator in Gray County Kansas in 1986. In 1988, Leanne got an Extension Educator position in Saline County and continued to work there nearly to the day of her death. Recently, she was recognized by the University of Nebraska for an Excellence in Extension Team Award in 2020 for her work providing professional development to childcare providers. One of many awards during her career.

Leanne has always been passionate about education, helping others through educational programming, and watching youth develop into their potential.  Some of her passions outside of work included music, church, watching songbirds (especially bluebirds), gardening, and spending time with her four cats: Truman, Furrari, Boo, and Otis.

In April of 1986, she was united in marriage to Mark Manning, and they just celebrated their 35th anniversary together. Emily Mae Manning was born in January of 1994 to Mark & Leanne. Leanne was a wonderful and dedicated mother to Emily. Additionally, Leanne enjoyed spending time with Mark on the acreage they bought where they built their house. They had always wanted to help preserve nature and wildlife and spent many hours planting trees, flowers, and native grasses. It was a labor of love. They built their dream nature reserve together and is one of the achievements Leanne is most proud.

Leanne was diagnosed with an aggressive and rare uterine cancer near the end of August 2020. She fought hard to beat the cancer and never stopped trying. She died 58 years young during the afternoon of April 9, 2021 at the Buffet Cancer Center in Omaha. Leanne is survived and forever loved by her husband Mark Manning, daughter Emily Manning and son-in-law, Drew Amen, sister Charlene Brown, and father Rex Brown. As well as her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Thomas & Bette Manning; Melinda Hofferber; Chris & Brenda Manning; Kent & Cindy Manning; Jennifer Manning; and Matt & Heather Manning, along with many nieces and nephews. Leanne was a quiet, soft-spoken, practical, and, above all, kind and caring person.  She will be dearly missed by her loved ones, friends, and colleagues.