Myron Manley

Myron Leo Manley, age 73 of Osceola, IA, passed from this life on Thursday, April 22, 2021 in his home. Myron was born July 21, 1947 in Osceola, IA to Leo Virgil Manley and Inez Gelela (Mason) Manley. He was third of three children born to that union. He attended K-6 at Powell School, Liberty #7 and attended Clarke Community through graduation in 1966. In November of 1965, he was united in marriage to (Barbarie) Phyllis Stephenson and to this union two daughters were born, Melissa Sue in 1967 and Melanie Lynn in 1968. Myron and Phyllis divorced in 1981. He was united in marriage to Linda (Olson) Whitehead in September of 1984 and they shared 36 years of marriage. He was baptized at the First Christian Church in Osceola and remained a member until his death.

Myron was a resident of Clarke County his entire life, as a young man he worked for Byers-Myrell Texaco. As a child, he received a road grater that he loved “working” with and so it was only natural that he would start a career with Clarke County Secondary roads in 1968 spending 35 years until his retirement in December of 2002. In 2003, he felt honored and humbled to be elected by the people of Clarke County to continue his service as a Clarke County Supervisor for 3 terms and a total of 12 years. Over the years, Myron also enjoyed collecting, wheeling and dealing, selling items and cutting iron on the side. In 1988, he moved to the family farm. There he raised Buelingo Belted cattle and spent many days in the sun making hay, farming allowed him to build his collection of Allis-Chalmers tractors and equipment.

Myron was an active member of the Osceola Masonic Lodge #77 for 50 years and a member of the Clarke County Cattlemen’s Association. He enjoyed community service and spent 18 years as a volunteer fire fighter for the Osceola Fire Department and 20 years as a Clarke County Reserve Deputy. In his retirement, he enjoyed “coffee time” with friends, meeting new friends and maintaining long friendships. Myron did not know a stranger, there was nothing he enjoyed more than an interesting conversation with anyone who crossed his path.

Myron enjoyed time with family including his “girls,” grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a large extended family. He is survived by his wife, Linda of Osceola; his children, Melissa Kingland of North English, IA and Melanie (Scott) Mitchell of Afton, IA; Grandchildren, MaKenzi (Brandon) Vonk of Creston, IA. Tyler (Kristin) Mitchell of Muscatine, IA. Ethan and Kaitlyn Mitchell of Afton, IA. Patrick Lalla-Kraemer of North English, IA. Jacob (Sarah) Kingland, Claire (Tyler Wessels) Kingland and Samuel Kingland of Cedar Rapids, IA.; Great-grandchildren, Swaizeni and Raleigh Vonk of Creston, IA, Maeve and James Kingland of Cedar Rapids, IA and Oliver Mitchell of Muscatine, IA and several members of his extended family. He is now reunited with those who preceded him in death including his parents; his siblings, sister, Mary Helgevold in 1982, brother, Marion Manley in 2016, Aunts, Uncles and several cousins.

A celebration of life reception with be held on Friday, May 14th, 2021 beginning at 3:00 PM at the Osceola Eagles.