James “Jim” Richard Manning was born July 11, 1949, in York.
He was the eldest of five children born to Louisa L. (Schwab) and Richard E. Manning. Jim attended Exeter Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1967. Upon graduating, he received a Regents Scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and planned to major in electrical engineering. However, as life would have it, circumstances changed; instead, he got married and started a family.
Jim helped his father farm while also starting his own business, Jim’s Automotive. He purchased damaged cars and rebuilt them to perfection. Many of the local muscle cars of the 1960s and 70s in the Exeter area had been purchased from Jim. He also transitioned into the auto salvage business at the same time.
Jim’s love of cars also led him to racing for several years. He cherished the many good people he met while racing.
After getting out of the car business, Jim lived on a sandpit on the Blue River for several years before residing in Lincoln for the remaining years of his life. Jim always had a love for dogs and was rarely without one by his side. He also had a love for learning and was forever researching something new. He had a gift for accomplishing almost any task he put his mind to and always seemed to thrive in the challenge.
Jim left this world on March 20, 2025, and will be sorely missed by those who truly knew him well.
Rest in peace big brother, Donald L. Manning.
