Susan Gay Manning

Susan Manning, 80, passed away suddenly on Tuesday March 10, 2026, at 9:15 p.m. at North Memorial hospital in Robbinsdale, MN surrounded by her loving family. Susan was the eldest of three daughters of Col. Leo W. and Truth M. Manning (nee Carlson), born May 5, 1945, in Keokuk, Iowa. She attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and earned her bachelor's degree in English from American University in Washington, DC. She was a long-time resident of Urbana/Champaign, Illinois where she was a social worker for the county and later worked at the University of Illinois Admissions office. The pride of her life was her boutique gift shop on Main Street in Mahomet, Illinois, "Whatever For?" where she curated a unique, refined, and sophisticated selection of home décor, showcased antique and vintage furniture, linens, gourmet foods, children's books, quality toys, folk art, and many other items. She spent beloved hours making her shop warm and inviting and cultivated good business relationships with the other Main Street shops in Mahomet, including planning holiday events together for their clientele. Susan championed local theater and music and was an honored patron of The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, attending many concerts and productions where she treasured meeting with the various entertainers. She delighted in supporting emerging local artists. She also was a longtime benefactor of calls. Susan was a devoted friend to many, never meeting a stranger. She loved learning, especially about people and their cultures. Some of her favorite time was spent simply picnicking in the quad outside her apartment with many of the international students, professors, dignitaries, and ambassadors who came to the Univ. of IL. She spent some time researching family ties in England, traveled all around Europe with her sister, Jennifer, from Copenhagen and Amsterdam to the south of France, museums of Florence, Italy, the Alps of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, making friends all along the way. When at home, she loved to have visits from family and friends and "adopted" nearby friends' children as her own. She will be dearly missed by her many friends, extended family, her two sisters, Jennifer Manning Chapman of Greenwich, CT, and Hellen Manning Gutsche (Russell), of Minneapolis, her niece, Christine Chapman Fritz (Thomas) of Munich, Germany, her nephews, Scott Chapman (Jessica) of Grover Beach, California, John Chapman of CT, David Gutsche, Michael Gutsche, both of Minneapolis, and her grand nieces and nephews, Laura and Julian Fritz, and James, Grace, Jesse and Joy Chapman. Interment will be held at 1 p.m. April 16, 2026, at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 2250 St. Anthony Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55118. Memorials, flowers and plants may be sent to Washburn McReavy Nokomis Park Chapel, 1838 E. Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55407. In lieu of flowers, Susan would appreciate donations to Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois. Information is available at https://krannertcenter.om/giving/invest-now, or call 217-244-2706.

Susan Gay Manning

May 5, 1945 - March 10, 2026

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