James M. Mansker (Lebanon)'s Obituary
James Morris Mansker, son of Benjamin Franklin and Stella Joann Bresler Mansker, was born April 8, 1925, near Hartville, Missouri. He departed this life Friday, March 27, 2015, in his home, near Falcon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-nine years, eleven months, and nineteen days.
On December 14, 1950, he was united in marriage to Nellie Normalea Walters and this union was blessed with three daughters and three sons.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kenneth James Mansker; four brothers, Glenn Gibbons, Horace Edwin Gibbons, Paul Eugene Mansker, and B. F. Mansker; and two sisters, Mary Bonita Cline, and Geneva Irene Mansker.
James is survived by his loving wife of sixty-four years, Norma, of the home; three daughters, Ruth Mansker, of Falcon, Missouri, Rita Barnes, and her husband, Lawrence, of Mount Vernon, Missouri, and Janis Mansker, of Lynchburg, Missouri; two sons, David Mansker, and his special friend, Christina, and John Mansker, and his wife, Diane, all of Falcon, Missouri; four grandchildren, Duane Barnes, and his wife, Bridget, of Charlottesville, Virginia, Justin Franklin Mansker, and his wife, Ashley, of Falcon, Missouri, Jared Lee Mansker, of Navarre, Florida, and Jonathan Kyle Mansker, of Falcon, Missouri; three great-grandchildren, Natalie Marie, Ryan Levi, and Andrew James Mansker; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in the Hartville, Missouri area, and then moved with his family to Plato, Missouri, where he graduated from Plato High School in the Class of 1943. He entered the military as a young man, and served his country faithfully in the United States Army from September 20, 1944, until his honorable discharge on November 3, 1946. He was stationed in the Philippines and in Korea during World War II, and received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Star, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Army of Occupation Ribbon Japan. He returned to Missouri, and attended vocational school where he studied automobile body and fender repair. After he and Norma were married, they made their home on their farm near Falcon, Missouri, and lovingly raised their family. James not only operated the farm, but helped his father in the logging and lumber business. He even helped cut the logs and saw the lumber that was used in their family home. James was a NAGE union representative at Fort Leonard Wood, and received several awards and recognitions for his inventions of tools and other things that saved on government cost while working at the Fort. He retired from civil service on December 1, 1986. He later drove a school bus for the Plato School System.
James professed his faith in Christ at an early age, and later became a member of Cedar Bluff Baptist Church. He became a Deacon in the church on April 20, 1980, and loved singing praises to God. He prayed and read his Bible often.
In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, pitching horseshoes, and caring for his donkeys, cows, horses, and dogs. He liked picking blackberries and tending to his garden. Norma was the true love of his life and he was devoted to her, his family, neighbors and church.
James was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his eighty-nine years.
Memorial donations to Coon Creek Cemetery or Gideon Bible Ministry may be made through the funeral home.
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