Obituary of Harold Manz

Harold Manz was born July 25, 1934 in Mercer, North Dakota to William and Carrie Manz. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Mercer traveling by horse and buggy. He finished school after the 8th grade and worked on the farm. With his family, Harold was involved in the Baptist Church in Mercer where his dad was a lay-minister. In 1956, Harold met Lois Dreier in Minot, North Dakota, the two of them being introduced by Harold’s sister Lydia. Lois and Harold were married on March 7, 1957 in Great Falls, Montana. They enjoyed almost 53 years of being married. Lois and Harold moved back to Minot and then to Grand Forks where Harold took a job working on the construction of military missile silos. During those years in North Dakota, the Manz family added 2 sons: Wesley in 1958 and Mark in 1962. Because of his work with the missile silos Harold heard about job openings with Boeing. He and 2 friends drove cross-country in a VW bug and were hired by Boeing. In 1966, Harold and his family moved to Washington. Two more children were born there: daughters Anita in 1968 and Becky in 1972. During their first year in Lakewood, Harold and Lois lived in the Idlewild Apartments right next to Christ Lutheran. When Pastor Nesse discovered their common connection to North Dakota he invited Harold and Lois to join Christ Lutheran. They did and Harold and his daughter Becky were baptized on the same day in 1972. In 1972, Harold took a position with Evergreen Modular Homes. He worked there for 36 years until his retirement in 2003. He considered the company owner, Harold Hansen, a good friend. Harold enjoyed so many things! He loved to camp and fish. He played multiple musical instruments including the accordion. He loved to collect knick-knacks and spent many hours at the Starlight Swap Meets. He enjoyed walking on the beach and collecting driftwood (Becky remembers a time when there was so much wood in the car there was hardly room for her!). Harold was a creative person who could make something out of anything. His family remembers his Christmas turtles made out of walnut shells. More than anything Harold loved his grandchildren! Much of what he did was connected to them. Everyone remembers the time that Sabrina combed Harold’s hair and then gave him a haircut while he was sleeping! Being the kind man he was he never complained about it. Harold was very proud of his 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild Julian William Manz. He had so hoped to be at Sabrina’s wedding in May. Now he’ll watch from heaven! Harold was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis just before his retirement from Evergreen. He was hospitalized last weekend and died quietly and at peace surrounded by his family on Monday afternoon at St. Joseph’s. Harold is survived by: His wife Lois of Lakewood; His children: Wesley Manz of Boise, Idaho and his children, Ryan, Brady, and Samantha; Mark Manz and his wife Lety of Puyallup, and their children, Sabrina, Micky, and Ricky; Anita Bauer and her husband Jason of Moyock, North Carolina, and their son, Skyler; Becky Richner of Lakewood and her children, Cody, Brandon, and Andrew; His sisters, Lydia, Alice, and Anna, and his brother Eddie; Many other relatives and friends, especially those at Evergreen Modula Homes. We commend Harold into the love and care of his own Good Shepherd who has found Harold and brought him home.