Obituary of Albert Manke

Manke, Albert Anderson (77) Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend died on April 15, 2010 at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, WA. Albert was born to Albert E and Hazel J Manke on October 25, 1932 in Seattle, WA. In 1953 the family moved to the Manke Farm that was homesteaded in 1888 a few miles east of Ritzville. Albert attended Ritzville schools, graduating in 1950. While in school he was active in drama, band, shop and FFA. He participated in Parliamentary Procedure with their team coming in first place. He was also in the first Certified Pure Wheat Project for FFA, planting 20 acres of early Bart wheat which was a success. After graduation in May of 1950, Albert joined the Air Force and reported to San Antonio, TX at Lackland AFB. In July he graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics as an aircraft electrician. He was sent to Okinawa, Japan as a member of the B-Flight. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He was employed at Boeing in Seattle for a year and then was called home to help his father on the farm where he spent the next 50 years farming and working the soil. While in Ritzville, Al was active in Jaycees, Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lions Club, Wheat Growers and American Legion. Albert was an avid flyer; owning his own plane and building a Starduster bi-plane from a kit with a friend of his. He was working as the "Mig-Chief" on a Polish Mig-17 for the Armed Forces and Aerospace Museum in Spokane and was anxiously waiting to see it on display in the new museum. In 2007 Al retired from farming and with his wife, Gerri, moved to a new home in Spokane. He continued to work with the soil as he laid his entire yard with sod, planted shrubs and tended the flowers. Albert is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gerri at the home; one daughter Denise (Mike) Vickerman of Spokane; a son Ron (Janet) Manke of Ritzville; three grandchildren: Alicia (Jeremiah) Buckles of Las Vegas, NV, Katie Manke and Adam Manke of Ritzville; two brothers: David Manke of Las Vegas, NV and Don (Becky) Manke of Tacoma, WA. Many cousins, nieces, nephews and an abundance of friends in Ritzville and Spokane also survive him. Visitation will be Monday April 19, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 PM at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville. Funeral Services will be Tuesday April 20, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville. Memorial contributions are suggested to Air Force and Aerospace Museum PO Box 19459 Spokane, WA 99219-9459 or Vaness Behan Crisis nursery 1004 E 8th Spokane, WA 99202. Condolences may be left at www.danekasfuneralhome.org Danekas Funeral Home and Crematory-Ritzville is entrusted with arrangements.