Christa M. Manion

Christa M. (Steger) Manion, 94, of Hall, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, with her loving family by her side. She was born one of three children in Limbach, Saxony, Germany on March 31, 1927, to the late Johannes and Martha Steger. Raised in Germany, Chris attended school locally, where she spent the last three years of her high school education tending to kindergarteners as part of her graduation requirements. Brought into this world just before the landscape of the earth was going through major changes, she not only survived the Great Depression, but also WWII. Departing Germany for the freedom of becoming an American citizen in 1958 which she achieved in 1965, Chris packed her bags, left family and friends and booked a flight to join the land of the free. Settling in Batesville, Chris met and married her first husband Carl Dieckman, later giving birth to her first child. A master cook, her best friend helped her find work, securing employment with the Hillenbrand family, the former owners of Batesville Casket Company, where she dedicated 17 years of service. When Carl passed unexpectedly, Chris was left with a five-month-old baby to care for on her own. Introduced to her second love Dean Manion, the happy couple said I do in August of 1963, blending their two families: her with a young daughter and he with 3 pre-teen girls, with the pair’s only son, Patrick, entering the world a year later. The family pulled up roots, landing in Hall in 1965, where Chris remained the rest of her life, becoming a faithful member of the Mt. Pleasant Christian Church, the Bible Study Club, along with the VFW Post#1257. Once again, she was faced with death, when Dean passed in 1976, leaving her to raise her family on her own. Strong in the face of adversity, Christa pulled up her bootstraps and let her inner strength shine. A strong and loving matriarch, Chris ran a tight ship, instilling in her children the value of hard work and dedication through weekend chores that she ensured were done properly, even if it meant having to throw a shoe or two to get her point across. In her words, she was “the best darn cook around” regularly creating scrumptious American as well as German meals alongside mouthwatering desserts. When she wasn’t glued to the television enjoying Wheel of Fortune and reruns of Gunsmoke and Bonanza, she could be found tending to her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. On weekends the family tradition was playing cards and games, from poker to scrabble, often putting a walloping to her innocent opponents. Above all, Chris was the most kind and gentle soul you could ever meet. Not a single person in this world felt anything but love for her when blessed to be in her presence. She was truly a legend in her time. She loved her family intensely, and frequently went above and beyond to safeguard their happiness. She will be forever missed by all who knew her. Along with her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her children, Patrick Manion and Sharon Willoughby; siblings, Rudolf and Kurt Steger; grandchildren, Shawna Snyder and Wendi Williams; and God son, Harald Heinz Reindorf. She leaves behind her children, Linda Brown (Ray) of Hall, Becky Reindorf of Mooresville, and Cindy Harp of Martinsville; 12 beloved grandchildren, RaeAnne Helmkamp, Rustey Dunham, Sarrah Williams, Sabrena Haulter, Shondell Thomas, Jesse Payton, Bradley Brown, Travis Brown, Patrick Goodnight and Chris Goodnight; 14 adored great grandchildren, Darick Huffman, Owen Helmkamp, Christian and Collene Dunham, Hudson , Huxley, Eisley and Everly Haulter, Sophia Jasper, Emma Harris, Caden and Taylor Goodnight, and Brody and Brayden Brown; God son, Mick Reindorf (Tracy) of Batesville; along with several nieces and nephews, Ava Marie Gregor, Sabine, Gabi, Michael, Thomas and Johannes Steger in Germany, as well as Deanna, Vicki, Bob, Donny, Nancy, Linda and Carol in the United States; and her beloved fur baby, Bella. Friends and family are invited to gather from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Monday, March 28, 2022, at Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel with a Celebration of Life Service beginning promptly at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Randy Weddle will officiate, and burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Hall. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made in Christa’s honor to the Morgan County Humane Society, 690 W Mitchell Ave, Martinsville, IN 46151, or to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 511 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, TX 75062 or online at https://www.madd.org/. To share a favorite story, send an online condolence to the family, or light a candle in her memory, please search @MonroviaFuneralHome on social media or visit her tribute page at www.lightmemorial.com.

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Christa M. Manion

March 31, 1927 - March 23, 2022