When William Manning’s nieces and nephews were orphaned as young children in 1964, he never hesitated about bringing the four into his home, which at the time was a small apartment he shared with his wife of seven years. “There was no question we were going to do it, absolutely none,” said his wife, U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning. “We immediately assumed the responsibility. They were our flesh and blood, and they were coming to live with us.” The couple rented a home in Dixmoor for their new family after Mr. Manning’s widowed sister died. The family grew to six children in 1967 when Blanche Manning’s sister-in-law died. Mr. Manning, 75, a retired Cook County deputy sheriff, died of lung cancer, Saturday, March 13, in St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights. “He was a wonderful man,” his wife said. “I have never known anyone more gentle and considerate. He was kind to everybody.” Born in Chicago, he attended DuSable High School and later received a GED. He joined the Army during the Korean War. After his discharge, he became a supervisor at Follett Publishing Co., where he met his wife, who worked there the summer after her junior year in high school. He then became a painter in Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation from 1968 until he joined the sheriff’s office in 1980. Through most of his career, he worked as a civil-process server, primarily out of the Markham office. In the last few years, he was assigned to court services in Bridgeview. Along with nurturing children, Mr. Manning had passion for growing house plants. “The inside of our house looked like a forest,” said his wife, “and he loved raising dogs. We always had two or three.” Mr. Manning also enjoyed cooking. “But he didn’t manifest those cooking skills until we got the kids,” his wife said. “I didn’t know that he could cook before that, but Uncle Bill’s cookouts were always popular with the kids.” Other survivors include several nieces and nephews. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday , with services at 7 p.m., in Griffin Funeral Home, 3232 S. King Drive, Chicago.
