Eileen F. Mann

Eileen F. Mann, 97, of Geneseo, passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Village in Geneseo, IL. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 5^th, 2018 at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Geneseo Chapel. Reverend Stephen Mueller will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service at the funeral home. Burial will take place on Monday, May 7^th, at the Rock Island National Cemetery. Memorials may be left to Concordia Lutheran Church, Geneseo.

Eileen was born January 4, 1921, the first of three daughters to Otis and Edith (Alexander) Johnson, in Missouri. Sustained by her deep faith in Jesus Christ, she survived the Great Depression, a host of childhood diseases, and eight Democratic administrations.

Eileen graduated from Moline High School in 1939, where at her peak stature of 5’1-¼”, she played guard on the girls’ basketball team. While in high school, she met a dashing neighbor who became her life's love, Darwin Mann. She worked as a typist in Moline when they eloped in 1943 as he entered military service.

She created a loving and laughter-filled home for him and their two sons wherever his Air Force career took them, including Japan, Hawaii, Maine, Texas, and Virginia. They eventually settled in Geneseo, near her parents and sister’s family. In later years, Eileen and Darwin continued their traveling adventures around the U.S., Europe, and the Holy Land.

Eileen enjoyed gardening, feeding the birds, reading, sewing, fall colors, and expressing her opinions. She followed politics closely, and was an avid basketball and football fan. She championed veterans, education, and music. She especially loved the summer concerts of Geneseo’s Maple City Band.

Her memory is cherished by many friends, neighbors, and family, including: son, Thomas (Regina) Mann, Sarasota, FL; grandchildren Judith (William) Stocker, Rachel Mann, and Joshua (Keri) Mann; great-grandchildren Jani, Abigail, Jeremiah, and Marie; brother-in-law, Rodney Weber; and several nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, and grand-nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Otis and Edith; husband, Darwin Mann; son, Robert Mann; sisters, Doris (Rodney) Weber and Joan Flodeen; and brothers-in-law, Arvin “Murray” Mann and Carl “Bud” Flodeen.