James D. Manis Jr. of Du Quoin
James D. Manis Jr. of Du Quoin passed away on Saturday, Dec. 4. Born July 13, 1946 to Audrey R. (Baxter) Manis and James D. Manis Sr., Jim spent his childhood in Du Quoin and returned to his hometown in retirement.
At the recommendation of a teacher at Du Quoin High School, Jim applied to an intensive training program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in order to become an engineering assistant with the Illinois Highway Department.
He was working at the Illinois Highway Department when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Germany. He continued his work at the Highway Department for several years after returning from service.
He later continued his education at Southern Illinois University where he studied under the author John Gardner and received a Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature. He furthered his studies at Bowling Green State University where he earned an MFA in Creative Writing.
Jim taught English for more than 30 years at many universities, including Mississippi State University, Northern Illinois University, Bloomsburg University and Northampton Community College.
He also served as a photographer and reporter for a brief time. He taught at the Hazleton campus of Penn State University for over 25 years, where he founded and managed two university-wide undergraduate student magazines (The Palimpsest Review and The Best of Freshman Writing), advised students in the College of Education, and helped spearhead the invention of the e-Book when he founded Penn State's Electronic Classics Series.
Jim was an avid reader and lover of books; he has left behind a large personal library and he was a valued consultant on campus library acquisitions. He published poems, short stories and other writings throughout his career. He was an accomplished athlete in his youth and continued participating in sports throughout his life.
As a lover of the outdoors, he spent many of his free hours fishing, hiking and bicycling. He deeply enjoyed lively conversation with friends and family, and he was a regular patron of coffee shops wherever he lived or worked. As a dedicated father, he shared his most loved activities with his three children.
Jim is survived by his sister, Nancy Bauman, and his three children and their families: Addie Manis, Andy Williams and Lucy Manis Williams (7 months) of Los Angeles; Nellie Manis, Ivan Borisov and Vanya Borisov (2) of Washington, D.C.; and Charlie Manis and Peggy Fulda of Portland.
A wake will be held at Jim's home (440 East Park St., Du Quoin) from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11. The family asks that only those who have been vaccinated attend.
Donations can be made to a fund the family has set up to support students and literacy: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jim-manis-education-and-literacy-memorial-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1.