Eloise Rentfrow Manuel (96) of Effingham

Eloise F. Rentfrow Manuel, 96, of Effingham, Illinois passed away peacefully Monday, December 16, 2019 at her home.

She was born December 14, 1923 in Stewardson, Illinois, the daughter of Lee Anderson and Minnie (Webb) Rentfrow. She graduated from Stewardson High School and shortly after graduation moved to Effingham where she found work and later met and married Keith Manuel on October 3, 1942. He preceded her in death on June 1, 1992. They were lifelong residents of Effingham and were the parents of three children. For over 50 years Eloise enjoyed working on the family genealogies. She collected birth and death notices, marriage licenses, and newspaper articles for the Manuel, Webb and Rentfrow histories before the internet was widely used. She visited cemeteries and collected pictures for her many genealogy albums. Eloise lived independently where she enjoyed feeding her birds and squirrels and growing flowers. She was a member of the Effingham Centenary United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Keith; their son, Ken; a brother, Lelend Rentfrow; and a sister, Vivian Stevenson.

Mrs. Manuel is survived by her daughters, Nancy Doty and husband Bob of Murray, Kentucky and Patty Luchtefeld and husband Bob of Mt. Zion, Illinois; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; sister, Genevieve Shadwell of Effingham, and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be in the Effingham Oak Ridge Cemetery, Monday, December 23 at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or the Scleroderma Foundation. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.