William A. Manger (Bill) died on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at his home, following a valiant fight with glioblastoma multiforme. He was surrounded by family and friends.
Bill was born on June 25, 1949, in Louisville, KY, the son of Ambrose and Marion Manger.
The family moved to Shawnee Mission, KS, where Bill graduated from Bishop Miege High School. After high school, he served two years in the military. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Bill attended UMKC and received a degree in Political Science.
Bill spent the majority of his career working for a wholesale wine and spirits company in Kansas City. Bill was a wine aficionado. He taught wine tasting classes in order to share his love of wines with others. An attendee at one of these classes became a close friend and later introduced him to his future wife and love of his life, Linda Troutfetter.
Linda and Bill were married in a small ceremony on October 12, 1991, officiated by Linda’s uncle, Les Toburen, at Les’s home in Salina, KS.
Bill and Linda began their married life in Lawrence, KS. In May of 1993, they welcomed a daughter, Morgan, into their lives. Bill loved being a dad and watching his daughter grow into a successful and happy adult. He was thrilled when, despite his cancer diagnosis, he was able to walk Morgan down the aisle in June of 2023 for her marriage to Riley Mellen.
Bill was a quiet, kind, contemplative man. He loved reading, music, and playing the guitar. No matter how crazy the world, Bill was thoughtful and measured when considering any issue. One of his favorite quotes was “we are not what we know, but what we are willing to learn.” In his last months, he spent many hours sitting on the front porch of his home south of Lawrence, listening to the birds and enjoying time with the many people who loved him.
Survivors include his wife, Linda, of the home; his daughter, Morgan Manger, and her husband, Riley Mellen, of Brooklyn, NY; his siblings, Eileen Burkart (Gary), Denise Staudenmyer (Dave), and Michael Manger (Sheryl); his brother- and sister-in-law, George and Marcia Troutfetter; many nieces and nephews and close friends. Bill was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ambrose and Marion Manger.
A memorial service followed by a celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Saturday, September, 7th from 4:00-6:00 at the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Bill’s name to Beheadstrong.org or the Lawrence Public Library – www.lplff.org.
