Billie Voge

Billie Voge  March 27, 1929 to May 7, 2018

Billie Irene Voge was born on March 27, 1929 to Cassandra Ann (Howard) and Louis DeBoth in Taylorville, Illinois. She passed on May 7, 2018 at the Manning Regional Health Care Center from pneumonia. She spent her younger years in Illinois and Southeast Iowa and her early adult life in northwest Iowa and Colorado before settling in Manning, Iowa in the early 1950’s. She had warm memories when she attended an all girls' school in Quincy, Illinois and graduated from Oskaloosa High School.

Billie met G.T. Voge at the Sextro Steak House (later known as Saunders Steak House along Highway 141). Billie married G.T., a local farmer, on August 4, 1954, in which they enjoyed four sons; James, Jerry, Terry, Bill and daughter Ann. Also, her extra son, Rick Dammann who filled the avoid in which Jerry left on his death. The family lived at the present Great Western Park and then their current location along Highway 141. After Billie broke her second hip on December 20, 2014, she moved to the Manning Plaza, a couple months at Char-Mac and found home at the Manilla Manor in the fall of 2016, becoming very close to other residents and staff and enjoying daily activities.

Billie took over the flower shop from her brother in 1964 and added the Sears Roebuck Catalog Store in 1976. Her son, Jim returned to Manning in the early 1980s to take over the flower shop. Billie also worked several years at Casey’s in Manning and ran the Hilltop Greenhouse until she semi-retired in 1994. 

Billie was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and so enjoyed her weekly visits with Father Gralapp and Father Gerald. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Altar Society, VFW, American Legion, etc. She was also a long-term member and past president of the Chamber of Commerce of Manning, Iowa. Lila Schroeder and Billie started the Weihnachtsfest which continues to be enjoyed to this day. Billie and G.T. had many foster children (Tim, Stephen, Sue, James and Gene) through their home through the years. Billie has provided the flag poles and flags for decades in several locations in the community, including at the Manning Cemetery. Billie was very generous in contributing her time and money to various organizations in the community, especially to the youth.

 G.T. and Billie started traveling frequently, after attending their son, Bill's, graduation from college in California in 1983. They visited Bill in California; London, England; Rye, New York, France, etc. and their last big trip was to San Diego, California and on to Baja California Sur, Mexico (Los Frailes) to visit Bill and his family in June of 2010. They also traveled to Colorado to visit their son, Jim and Linda.

 Several times a year G.T. and Billie would go to Solon, Iowa to the Casino and always stop in Denison to eat out on their way home. Every Wednesday was Billie's day to get her hair fixed at the LeBoutique by her special friend Bonnie Wanninger and in the afternoon, she and G.T. would drive around Manning, get their ice cream cone, visit the twins and collect their mail. They enjoyed Rick coming on Sunday mornings with donuts, he was always there whenever Mom called needing something. Rick would honk a couple times a day as he went past.

Billie’s hobbies include, playing Bingo, reading, watching Wheel of Fortune, old movies, and visiting with friends and family. Billie enjoyed her van rides, baking cookies, playing games, and participating in activities at the Manilla Manor the last couple of years.

 Billie is survived by her husband, G.T. (Gerhardt Theodore) Voge; her son James (Linda) Switzer of Audubon, Iowa: son, Bill (Jami) Voge of Solana Beach, California and daughter Ann (Mark) Trullinger of Manning, Iowa. 

And all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Heather (Shane) Brundieck – Lincoln Nebraska and Isabella and Oliver; Jamey (Brandy) Voge – Wills Point, Texas and Landon and Cheyenne; James (Joni) Switzer – Tabor, Iowa and Austin, Dane, Addie and Ellie; Jessica (Matt) McKinley – Albuquerque, New Mexico and Harley, Cash and Jax; Emily (Ben) Hester, Encinitas, California; Hank Voge, San Francisco, California; John (Carly) Voge, Los Angeles, California; Michael Voge, New York, New York; Paul and Maddie Voge, Denver, Colorado; Brandon (Jen) Juhl, Iowa City, Iowa and Obadiah; Crystal Juhl Denver Colorado and Kaitlyn.

 Billie is survived by one younger sister, Freda Drees; nieces and nephew: Linda (Roy) Bertolet and Catherine Drees, all of Ormond Beach, Florida, and Michael (Toni) Drees of Lorton, Virginia. Billie has one sister-in-law, Persis DeBoth of Audubon, Iowa.

 Billie and G.T. suffered the loss of both twin sons… Terry (June 9, 1972) and Jerry Voge (December 5, 1982); her parents, Louis and Cassandra (Howard); her brothers, Wesley and Terry DeBoth; sisters, Marjorie Ann and Linda DeBoth in infancy; brother-in-law, Louis Drees; her special aunt Claudia (Gerald) Walterhouse and uncle Bill (Maryon) Mayan.  Her in-laws Henry and Jessie (Lamp) Voge and nephews; Louis "Dan" Drees; Patrick "Tommy" Drees; Cory DeBoth and other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

 Memorials can be made to the Manilla Manor memory care unit or to the tree project at the cemetery. A celebration of life will be held this summer. Billie always believed it was not goodbye, it was until we meet again.