Mary Alice Manning, age 98, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Northwoods Care Centre in Belvidere, Illinois. She was born on July 17, 1927, in Ashton, Illinois, the daughter of Dirk and Ragna (Hansen) Greenfield. She graduated from Ashton High School in 1945 and attended Rockford Business College to become a bookkeeper.

She met and married John "Jack" G. Manning on May 7, 1949, in Rochelle, Illinois. Together, they shared a wonderful life carrying on the legacy of Manning Ford Motor Sales and raising their three children: Susan (Gene) Mead, John (Martha) Manning, and Joyce (Mike) Wolf. 

Mary Alice was actively involved in her children’s lives in many ways. She enjoyed volunteering at their schools and served as a Bluebird Leader and a Boy Scout mom. The family were lifelong members of the Rochelle Country Club, where Jack enjoyed golfing and Mary Alice took the children to the pool. She was also an active member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church and the Rochelle Hospital Auxiliary. Additionally, she served as an election judge, where she thoroughly enjoyed serving her community and catching up with friends.

Mary Alice cherished summer vacations with her children at Lauderdale Lake, where they would swim, water-ski, and enjoy time together. Later in life, she and Jack enjoyed spending time at their condo in Vero Beach and spending summers at their Wisconsin home. Wherever she went, she always returned to Rochelle to play bridge with "the girls" and have lunch with her friends to celebrate all of life’s joys.

After being an active mother, she became an equally active grandmother. She provided countless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, attended many Grandparents' Days, and cheered at numerous sporting events. When her great-grandchildren arrived, she once again found joy in reading books, going out for Happy Meals, and visiting the Rochelle Train Park.

In addition to her parents and her husband, John, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Joyce Wolf, in 2024; her son-in-law, Michael Wolf; three sisters: Dorothy Greenfield, Ruby Frakes, and Margaret “Peg” Sanderson; and three brothers: Dick Greenfield, Wayne Greenfield, and James Greenfield.

She is survived by her two children: Susan (Gene) Mead of Englewood, Florida, and John J. (Martha) Manning of Rockford, Illinois; six grandchildren: Chad (Catherine) Manning, Brett (Natalee) Mead, Meghan (Steve) Becker, Mitch Wolf, Matthew (Jody) Wolf, and Mary Alison Wolf; six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; her sister-in-law, Bonnie Greenfield; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary Alice will be remembered for always spreading happiness and joy, always seeing the positive side of life, and for her deep love for her family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Symphony Northwoods Care Centre in Belvidere, Illinois, for their wonderful care and kindness. We would especially like to thank Jennifer Westendorf and Tina Klinefelter for their unwavering support throughout the years.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Michael Gudgel officiating. Burial will take place at Lawnridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle, Illinois. An online guestbook is available at www.UngerHorner.com.