Arthur “Burton” Manworren, Jr., 94, of Knoxville, Illinois, died at 2:27 p.m. Monday, January 19, 2026, at Knox County Nursing Home.
Burt was born December 14, 1931, in Galesburg, Illinois, the son of Arthur B. and Dorcas Kay (Staggs) Manworren, Sr. He married Joan Searle on June 24, 1951, in Galesburg. She preceded him in death on May 23, 2006.
Surviving is a daughter, Betsy (Gary) Clark of Cole Camp, Missouri; grandchildren: Tyler (Angie) Clark of Cole Camp, Missouri, Brian (Alicia) Clark of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Lisa (David) Spear of Columbia, Missouri; great-grandchildren: Quinn Burton Spear, Kian Clark, Vivian Spear, Bovey Clark, Rosalyn Spear; chosen family member Linda Wexell. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, three sons: Arthur Bradford, John Burton, and Raleigh Joe, and two sisters: Barbara Jean Baker and Rachel Duncan.
Burt lived in Knox County all his life. He served in the U.S. Navy as a morse code specialist during the Korean War. During the war he was stationed on a ship that traveled on waters that are now known as Windward Passage. Over the course of his life Burt was a barber, a farmer, a factory worker and an avid woods craftsman. After retirement he spent many hours volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
Graveside (military) memorial services will be held in early spring of 2026 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Galesburg, Illinois. Memorials to Tunnel to Towers (https://t2t.org) or Habitat for Humanity of Knox County Illinois (https://www.habitatknox.org; 808 S Cedar St., Galesburg, IL 61401). Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes & Crematory will be assisting the family with his wishes. Online condolences or expressions of sympathy may be made through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhomes.com.