Illeana Manship

God welcomed his child, Illeana Manship, also known to many as mom, Smitty or "The Rev," of Conrad, Iowa, into His kingdom on the morning of Friday, June 21, 2024. She passed at Grandview Heights Nursing and Rehab in Marshalltown.

Services for Illeana will take place on Friday, June 28 at 11:00 A.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation one hour prior beginning at 10:00 A.M. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Born Illeana Ann Smith on January 27, 1930 in Rockford, Illinois, she was the daughter of Byrl and Thelma (Hardin) Smith. She lived her first ten years in Oskaloosa, Iowa and attended high school in Marshalltown. On November 17, 1946, she was united in marriage to Omar Wesley Manship. Together they had six children. They divorced in 1964.

Illeana worked various jobs over the years, including Bell Telephone and Kiowa. At 42 years old, she decided to obtain her GED. She continued her education to become a licensed practical nurse and went on to work at the Iowa Veterans Home. Later she became an ordained Pentecostal minister, working mostly in corrections and jail ministries, where she lovingly received the nickname of “warden.” She finally retired at 80 years old. In her free time, she enjoyed drawing and singing. More than anything, she loved her family deeply and enjoyed spending time with them. She truly enjoyed taking care of people, helping anyone and everyone whenever she had a chance.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Jane (Larry) Zednichek of Conrad, IA, Omar “Buck” (Kathy) Manship Jr. of Liscomb, IA, Judy (J.R.) Spaulding of Tulsa, OK, Richard Manship of Elko/New Market, MN, Mary Sanderson of Grundy Center, IA and Everett (Becky) Manship of Conrad, IA; 26 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren; two of her siblings: Leroy Smith and Nettie Dibbens; nephews: David and Troy Manship and Robert, Eric, Jarod and Richie Smith; niece Shelly Flathers; many great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins; as well as many others who called her “mom” and “grandma.”

Illeana is preceded in death by her parents Byrl and Thelma, three brothers: Curt, Lowell and Donald Smith, daughter-in-law Corrine Manship, brother-in-law John Dibbens, and sister-in-law Carol Smith.