Nelda I. Manter, 91, passed away peacefully on October 11th, 2025, with family present, at Anita’s Gardens of Brookfield. Nelda was born in Indiana, graduated from St. John High School in Dyer, and from Elmhurst University in Illinois. She earned a master’s degree from Western Washington State College. She was employed as a math teacher in Hoppeston, Illinois, and in Columbus, Indiana, before moving to Wisconsin, where she conducted a pre-school in her home for eleven years. She then worked at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse as the math specialist in Student Support Services for twenty-seven years, before retiring in 2005.

Nelda married her high school classmate Paul Manter. The couple relocated to Wisconsin and bought a home on Lake Neshonoc, where they raised four children. Their beautiful lakefront property was Nelda’s pride and joy. It was the scene of many summer beach parties and winter sledding parties. Nelda was a doting grandmother, and one of her great delights was her grandchildren’s frequent visits for lake fun, rummage sale-ing, and Grandma’s cooking. Special favorites were her spaghetti (made from tomatoes she grew herself) and her raspberry jam (made from raspberries she grew herself).

Nelda loved to travel, taking advantage of summers off from work by orchestrating many family camping trips throughout the U.S. When exchange student Nena’s year ended, Nelda packed the entire family up for a roadtrip to Mexico to take Nena home. After Nelda’s retirement (at the age of 71), she and Paul traveled widely with extended family and many friends. They gathered their adult children, spouses, and families for large group vacations in Orlando, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Dells, and Mishicot. Nelda loved going on cruises and visiting different locations, but her favorite place was definitely her home on Lake Neshonoc, where she lived for more than 56 years.

Nelda is survived by three children and their spouses: Valerie (Bruce) Kapanke, Vernon (Dawn Manthei) Manter, Venitha (Jim Anderson) Manter, and Jeff Zagar; seven grandchildren: Kalyn (Ryan Saari) and Kendra Kapanke, Erich and Lara Manter, Jake Zagar, and Zoe and Sadie Anderson; brother Melvin (Janet) Piepho, sister-in-law Nancy Piepho, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, and youngest daughter, Vadrian.

A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of West Salem, with a date to be announced soon.