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Paul Craig McManis age 93 of Louisville, Nebraska passed away on December 29, 2024 at his home.  He was born in Milton, Iowa on February 5, 1931, the first child of Craig W. and Grace Rebecca (Judd) McManis.  He attended East Home Prairie Country School, where he was one of 9 students.  He went to High School in Cantril, IA.  After graduation he joined the Army and was deployed to Korea where he landed on Christmas Eve in 1950 for the Inchon Invasion.  He received the "Ambassador for Peace" medal for this military service.  When he returned home he married Patsy Benedict and they had two sons, Joseph and Patrick McManis.

Paul had almost 30 years with the telephone company.  After an assignment in New York, Paul moved to Minneapolis where he met Nancy.  The telephone company transferred them to Omaha in 1979 and that same year they were married.  Paul had already acquired the love of antiquing and Nancy joined him in the hobby.  They discovered Louisville on a drive to look at some antiques and instead bought a building and opened their own shop which turned into a 35 year successful business for them both in Louisville.  They then moved from Omaha to Louisville in 1981 after Paul found the "perfect" house...built in 1931 for Louisville's banker Harvey Coop and his wife Gertrude.  After many additions and much remodeling over the years, it was time to downsize.  In 2004 they moved only two blocks away on Sandhill Road.

While living in Louisville, Paul realized a childhood dream to own a grocery store.  He owned Louisville Jack &  Jill for one year and realized it took too much work along with the antique business.  Thank goodness Jeff Powers was ready to realize his own dream and Paul sold the store to him.  Then yet another opportunity...the old Drake Hotel which had been vacant for several years went up for auction.  Paul loved the challenge of remodeling and restoring old buildings and houses.  The hotel became the Louisville Art Gallery after Paul's restoration project.  Then houses....so many houses.  Paul bought and sold over 25 houses in Louisville along with several buildings on Main Street to accommodate his expanding antique business.

Paul gave to his community by serving as chairman of the Louisville City Council and was a Cass County Commissioner.  He was on the Cass County Planning Board and the Cass County CASA executive board along with the Cass County Economic Development Executive board and his favorite...the Cass County Historical Society board.

Paul was a 57 year member of the Masonic Order and a member of the Scottish Rite and the North American Shrine and volunteered as a member in the TeamMates program at the Louisville School.  He enjoyed writing his witty "Senior Moments" column for the Plattsmouth Journal sharing his lifelong lessons.  Cooking was the way he relaxed along with having fun with this best friend Sammy the Cat.

Paul is survived by his wife Nancy McManis, grandsons, Jesse (Corrie Meshelski) Harrington and Zachary Harrington both in Arizona, brother Robert McManis and wife Carol of Montrose, IA and sister-in-law Elouise McManis in Florida, sister-in-law, Bonnie Klinefelter in Eveleth, MN, brothers-in-law, Randy and JD Stelmazek of Burnsville, MN, along with "special" nieces and nephews who meant so much to him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his two sons, Joseph and Patrick McManis and brother Bill McManis.

Memorial Services will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Louisville Methodist Church in Louisville, Nebraska.  Visitation will be one hour before services at the Church.

Burial will be Monday, January 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM at the Omaha National Cemetery with military honors by the Nebraska Army National Guard.

Memorials may be directed to the Cass County Historical Society Building Fund.