Ladies and gentlemen, gather round, we’ve got a tale to tell. A tale of a man who was as funny as a stand-up comedian, supportive as a sturdy bookshelf, adventurous as Indiana Jones, and charismatic as a Hollywood star. The man we’re talking about is none other than Robert “Robbie” Edward Manning, who was born on a sunny day in Iowa City, IA, on May 23, 1976.
Robbie made a grand exit from the stage of life on October 21, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of chuckles, love, and memories. This Ottumwa, Iowa, resident was a man of many talents. Though he held various factory jobs throughout his life, what he truly excelled in was making people smile. Camping, wrestling, fishing, NASCAR, NFL jets – you name it, Robbie was into it. As the saying goes, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all,” and for Robbie, life was certainly a daring adventure. He was a high school graduate who could tell a fish tale like no other, and his dedication to work was as solid as a rock.
Robbie was the sort of guy who believed in family first. He was the proud father of a small army of children – Emily, Austin, Becca, Levi, Sara, Matthew, and another Robert. His ex-spouse, Teffeny Saindon, remained a good friend and his siblings Angela, Rose, Lawrence, Sonja, Michael, and Tina were there when little kids. His niece, Tisha was another ray of sunshine in his life with his other nieces and nephews. Robbie’s parents and grand parents, Ray and Karolyn Manning, had preceded him in leaving the stage of life. Robert was a man who could find humor in the most mundane things and his laughter was infectious.
As Mark Twain once said, “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter,” and Robbie wielded that weapon like a skilled swordsman. In his memory, let’s all remember to laugh a little more, love a little more, and live a little more, just like Robbie did.
There are no planned services at this time. Our invitation to you is to commemorate Robbie’s adventurous life by leaving memories and uploading photos on his memorial page. Let’s keep his spirit alive in our hearts and our stories, and ensure that his laughter continues to echo in our lives.
