Eugene (John) David Manson was born to John and Christine Manson on November 12, 1924 in Battle Creek, Iowa. He passed away in peace on Thursday, October 6 with his three children by his side.

John was a true patriot who served in WWII as a radar operator in the US Navy. He enlisted immediately following high school in 1943. He completed boot camp in Omaha Nebraska, trained in Farragut Idaho, and shipped out of Bremerton Washington on the USS Shippley Bay, an aircraft carrier in the waters of the South

Pacific. He tragically lost his brother, Johnny, in the war but was fortunate to have spent time with him when they were both laid over in Honolulu on occasion.

John left the Navy in 1946 for Westmar College, where he continued his love for sports, playing basketball for 4 years and pursuing his true love, baseball, where he played semi-pro and was known for his pitching prowess and his knuckleball. He was honored during college to be named Westmar College's athlete of the year in 1949 – 1950.

After college, John got a job teaching math and coaching basketball and baseball at Ringsted High School, where he spent his entire career of nearly 40 years. He often reflected that he enjoyed every single day he had of teaching and coaching. He loved and treasured his students and athletes and was touched to remain friends with many of them through his later years.

On August 16, 1959 he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Emma Jean Evans, in Winnebago, Minnesota. John and Emma Jean raised their family in Ringsted and were members of the First Presbyterian Church. They enjoyed many precious years together, sharing a love of sports, trips to the lake, and traveling to visit their children before Emma Jean was called home in 2006.

John was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish and hunt, passing that love down to his boys. In his later years, he looked forward to visits with his children and grandchildren, especially the annual family vacation to Lake Okoboji.

Left to cherish John's memory are his children, Mona Tessmer, her husband, Dan, and grandchildren Christopher John and Samuel of Denver Colorado; David Manson, his wife, Brenda, and grandchildren Becca Jean and Brett John of Port Angeles, Washington; Scott Manson, his wife, Tracy, and grandchild Peyton Christina of Long Lake Minnesota, his sister, Mildred Morton of LeMars, Iowa, and all the wonderful, caring people from Spring Creek and Valley View who provided him with so much enjoyment and loving care the last 7 years.

He has been preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Emma Jean, his brother, Johnny, and his sister, Miriam Matthiesen.