-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IQIlqUFat+L1dzMgzaXTE8FZUTDFjeQqP4q3EgsGOomVg20YZGkjf6UAKlgGTMl0
 Djjr6InYZMWIpGhKT+ZdyQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000878736-04-000093.txt : 20040223
<SEC-HEADER>0000878736-04-000093.hdr.sgml : 20040223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040223135752
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000878736-04-000093
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040223

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MANOR CARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000878736
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SKILLED NURSING CARE FACILITIES [8051]
		IRS NUMBER:				341687107
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 N. SUMMIT STREET
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43604-2617
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4192525500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 10086
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43699-0086

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HCR MANOR CARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19981001

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HEALTH CARE & RETIREMENT CORP / DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEMIEUX JOSEPH H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001210696

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10858
		FILM NUMBER:		04621560

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
		STREET 2:		ONE SEAGATE
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43666
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4192478945

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
		STREET 2:		ONE SEAGATE
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43666
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000878736</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MANOR CARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HCR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210696</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEMIEUX JOSEPH H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>333 NORTH SUMMIT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOLEDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>354</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>354</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17534</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom stock activity represents the  number of phantom units credited on 1/1/04 to the reporting person's account in Manor Care Inc.'s Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors.  Fictitious date was provided by the SEC to conform to requirements of electronic filing format.  Dates of exercisability and expiration are, therefore, not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lemieux,         Joseph            H.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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