June Wandrey Mann

Mrs. June Marion Mann, 85 a longtime resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a recent resident of Northwood, Ohio, died November 27, 2005, at St. Charles-Mercy Hospital, Oregon, Ohio. The former June Wandrey was born in Wautoma, Wisconsin, June 25, 1920, the daughter of Herman and Alvina (Zinke) Wandrey. She was preceded in death by her three sisters, Ruth Eva Wandrey Pape, Elizabeth Wandrey Walker and Pearl Wandrey. Her brother, Clarence Wandrey, currently resides in Ocala, Florida. She studied nursing at the Kahler School of Nursing, an affiliate of the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. Later she attended the University of Chicago and Shrivenham American University in England, and ultimately, received a Bachelors of Science from the University of Wisconsin. June Wandrey was united in marriage to Dr. Kingsley Mann on October 3, 1948. They had three children: Gail Mann of Elmore, Ohio, Geoffrey Mann of Timmonsville, South Carolina, and Paul Mann of Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Mann passed away April 9, 2003. Mrs. Mann was best known as the author of "Bedpan Commando," an account of her service during World War II as a First Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. From 1942 to 1946 she served in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. Toward the end of the combat, she served to ease the suffering of inmates at both the Allach and the Dachau concentration camps. The publication of "Bedpan Commando" led to numerous television, radio and personal appearances in such venues as the Larry King Show, Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, and the Paul Harvey Show. She met with President Bill Clinton in Nettuno, Italy, on June 22, 1995, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Anzio beachhead invasion. Mrs. Mann was also very active in the Women in Military Service for America, an organization dedicated to recognizing the service of women in combat. Her efforts helped result in the dedication of the Women's Memorial in Washington D.C. on October 15, 1997. She was a life member of numerous veterans' associations, including the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Anzio Beachhead Association, 36th Inf. Div., 3rd Inf. Div., 10th & 40th Combat Engineers. Memorial services for June and Kingsley Mann will be held in the Spring of 2006. Memorials may be sent to the Disabled American Veterans or the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.