Bill was born January 16, 1940 to John Max and Vera Donna (Allen) Mannewitz in a small house in Dallas, Texas. His mother, Vera Donna passed away in childbirth, when Bill was just 18 months old. Max soon remarried Doris Evelyn Estes Mannewitz, who along with Max, raised Bill in love and righteousness.
Bill graduated from McKinney High School and went on to college at Brigham Young University. He was called to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Southern Australia Mission. This would be the beginning of a lifetime of service to his Savior Jesus Christ and his fellow man.
Upon finishing his mission in Australia, he returned to BYU in Provo Utah, where he met and fell in love with Virginia Mae Lewis. They were married in the Salt Lake City Utah temple on January 26, 1966. Bill and Virginia moved back to Texas where they started a business, Superior Maintenance and Construction Co., building and remodeling homes and businesses. Later he owned and operated real estate.
The three most meaningful things in his life were his family, his faith, and working with his hands to restore cars and serve others.
All who knew Bill were keenly aware of his great example as a husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He was a devoted husband to his wife Virginia for 56 years. Together they have 8 married children, 46 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Bill and Virginia raised their children to love the Lord and each other. They taught them correct principles by example. He taught his children to be honest, loving, friendly, hardworking and faithful. As the patriarch of the family, he saw that they had daily family prayer and weekly Home Evening. He was so proud of his grandchildren and had a personal relationship with each of them. His 22nd great-grandchild was born less than 36 hours after his death.
Bill belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a Bishop of the McKinney ward and has served full-time missions for the church as a young man and as an adult. Together, Bill and Virginia served missions in California, Nauvoo, San Antonio and Utah. Two of these missions were overseeing Temple Construction. He frequently used his many talents to give selfless service to others. Never did a day go by without him reading the scriptures and praying to his Heavenly Father. His posterity will forever be shaped by the service he freely gave, his unwavering faith in the Lord, and the life he led.
Bill had a God-given talent. If you could break it, he could fix it. He enjoyed working and was never one to be accused of laziness. He was always using both his mind and hands to create beauty. He could be found in his shop working on one of his beloved antique classic cars and recently his old trains. He loved showing his projects to anyone who came by. His generosity and kindness will be missed by all who knew him.
Bill is survived by his wife, Virginia Mae Lewis Mannewitz of Allen, Texas; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Johnson and husband, Curtis, of Allen, Texas; daughter, Christine Marie Hughes and husband, Jeffrey, of Lucas, Texas; daughter, Donna Michelle Christensen and husband, Bryan, of Okarche, Oklahoma; son, William Bruce Mannewitz, II and wife, Mandy, of Spokane, Washington; son, John Lloyd Mannewitz and wife, Dianna, of Wylie, Texas; daughter, Amy Rebecca Feldman and husband, J.R., of South Jordan, Utah; daughter, Katherine Johanna Berrett and husband, Nathan, of Orem, Utah; son, Steven Lewis Mannewitz and wife, Erika, of Smithfield, Utah; 46 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren with two on the way; brother, Tom Mannewitz and wife, Barbara (deceased), of Forney, Texas; sister, Ann Mannewitz of Grand Saline, Texas; sister, Carol Ingram and husband, William “Bill”, of Sachse, Texas, and a host of other loving family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Max Mannewitz and his birth mother, Vera Donna Allen Mannewitz, and Max’s second wife, Doris Evelyn Estes Mannewitz; brother, John David Mannewitz; and sister, Vera Jo Mannewitz.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 22, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fairview, Texas. The family will receive guests for a visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Fitzhugh (Forest Grove) Cemetery.
Flowers and/or a donation to the Humanitarian Aid through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are equally welcome.