Lemuel "Lem" J. Nettles [Click to enlarge]

Lemuel "Lem" J. Nettles, 88, Manhattan, Kans. died Wednesday, June 18, 2008 in the Meadowlark Hills/Collins Landing in Manhattan.

He was born September 9, 1919 at Piggott, the son of William James Nettles and Luella Latta Nettles. He grew up in Piggott, where he attended the local schools and was a star football player for Piggott High School, graduating in 1941.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Force as a crew chief Airplane Maintenance Technician with the 523rd Fighter Squadron. He was awarded eight bronze stars with four oak leaf clusters and, after landing in North Africa, served in the Sicilian, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, northern Apennines, central Europe, Southern France, Rhineland and Northern France campaigns of the European Theatre. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in October 1945.

On April 19, 1946, he married F. Junell Morrow in Albion, Mich. She survives of the home.

He worked as an airplane mechanic at the Malden Air Force Base from 1947-1950. He also farmed in the Campbell area from 1947 until 1959. During the late 1950's, he took training to become a licensed guided missile technician at the Red Stone Arsenal and in 1959 received his Airframe and Engine license and certification at the Schilling Air Force Base, Salina, Kans. From 1959 until his retirement in 1981, he worked in the maintenance department at Ft. Riley

He was a member of the Manhattan Church of Christ, Pearce-Keller American Legion Post No. 17 and the American Federation of Government Employees. His hobbies included cooking and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Virgil, Bynum, Alex, Cecil and Orley Nettles; and two sisters, Coretta Nettles and Glova Nettles.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three son, Gaylon J. Nettles, and his wife, Bungon, Indianapolis, Richard G. Nettles, and his wife, Bonnie, Kansas City, Mo. and Phillip R. Nettles, and his wife, Sherry of Manhattan; his twin sister, Lona Jones, Piggott; six grandchildren, Linda, Catherine, Sydney, Olivia, Kylie and Kolbie Nettles; and three great grandchildren, Jade, Eva and Joshua Nettles.

Funeral services were held Monday, June 23, in the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home in Manhattan with Brian Cobb officiating. Burial, with full military honors, followed in the Sunrise Cemetery.

The family suggests that memorial contributions can be made to the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research-KSU or the Manhattan Church of Christ. Online condolences can be sent to www.irvinparkview.com.