Thomas Oliver Manig

March 2, 1949 - August 27, 2026

Thomas Oliver Manig, known to friends and family as Tom, passed away on August 27, 2026 at the age of 76 in Auburn, Alabama.

Born in Chicago, Illinois to Kurt and Glenna Manig, Tom was the youngest of three children. He is survived by his oldest brother, Herb Manig, of Thermopolis, Wyoming. Tom was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Sylvan, and his sister-in-law, Herb’s wife Connie Manig.

On June 23, 1985, Tom married his beloved wife, Bonnie MacEwan. Together, they shared a quiet and meaningful life filled with companionship, thoughtful conversation, shared word puzzles, and a deep appreciation for their many family members and the comforts of home.

Tom valued connecting with his family and was known for engaging his many far-flung nieces and nephews with the big philosophical questions about the meaning of life, the logic behind our personal values, and what it means to be a good human. He was a kind and appreciated uncle to Megan and Owen Burbank of Seattle, Washington; Wiley Harkens of Portland, Oregon; Mark and Kerri Manig of Thermopolis, Wyoming; and Mary Stoup and her husband, Mark, of Montgomery, Alabama; a grand-uncle to Kaycee Hamilton and her husband, Alexander; Katie Trotter and her husband, Jonathan; Karlee Stoup; Kenzie Stoup; Kobey Stoup; Konley Stoup; and Kelby Stoup, as well as his great-grandnephews, Amanuel, Alijah, Ari, and Kairo, all of Montgomery, Alabama. Tom was proud of each of them and always looked forward to celebrating their accomplishments, especially attending their graduations and following along with their careers.

Tom discovered philosophy while attending the University of Wyoming. Despite his love of science, philosophy would become his true intellectual home. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wyoming, an MA at Nebraska and a PhD from the University of Missouri.

From 2005 until 2018, Tom taught ethics to hundreds of students at Auburn University. He encouraged his students to examine the world carefully, think deeply, and consider their responsibilities to others.

He was quietly dedicated to making his fellow citizens’ lives better. In the 1980s, he advocated for better wages and living conditions in Kansas City. When he and Bonnie moved to Columbia, Missouri, Tom stood vigil for peace every Saturday morning. He also opposed apartheid in South Africa and racism in our own country.

Tom enjoyed a quiet life. Instead of adventures that required travel, he loved taking long walks in nature and spending time at home reading, writing, or doing word puzzles with Bonne. He was content to play his guitar alone or with friends or attend women’s basketball games or keep up with the Chicago Cubs, whose long-awaited World Series victory delighted Tom in 2016. Although he was endlessly curious about the world, he could only occasionally be tempted to leave the home he loved.

One place that could always tempt him away was the beach. Tom loved the ocean, and he and Bonnie found their “happy place” in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. They visited every fall and looked forward to this annual tradition.

During his treatment for lymphoma, Tom reflected on the abundance of love in his life. In a Christmas letter, he wrote: “One great lesson from all this is that this sort of illness does not mean being alone. Family and friends have been enormously kind—from visiting, to bringing covered dishes or sending food from faraway places, to praying or keeping me in their thoughts.”

Donations in Tom’s memory can be made to the Food Bank of Eastern Alabama https://foodbankofeastalabama.com or the Auburn Public Library Foundation http://APLFoundation.org @@His family also recommends doing the things that mattered to Tom: Listen carefully and actively to a loved one. Give them your full attention and ask insightful questions—the kind of questions those who loved him affectionately referred to as “being Tommed.” Vote in every election. Support your local library, food bank, and public schools. Speak up for peace and justice, and most importantly, stay curious, thoughtful, and fully present with the people you love. That is how Tom lived, and it is how he will be remembered.

A memorial service will be planned for a later date.