His funeral will be celebrated Friday, May 22, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Williston. The Rev. David Halaas is officiating and interment follows in Riverview Cemetery.
Andrew William Manz was born on Oct. 16, 1925, to William and Esther (Lee) Manz in Minneapolis. He was raised by his grandmother on a farm near Mankato, Minn.
In 1943 at the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater of operations during World War II. He was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Zeilin and U.S.S. Pawlins. He operated a landing craft and was involved in seven invasions leading up to the liberation of the Philippines. He was honored with the Asiatic Pacific Star and Victory Medal and was honorably discharged on Nov. 16, 1946.
On May 5, 1951. Andy was united in marriage to Sue Manz at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Plato, Minn. For a time, Andy drove truck out of Minneapolis. He soon began a landscaping business in Mankato. After getting flooded and losing most everything, the couple moved to Williston.
He then resumed landscaping in Williston and began Handy Andy’s Nursery after purchasing the Williston Greenhouse. Andy and Sue operated the nursery business for 42 years.
Andy was a charter member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and a member of the Moose Lodge, VFW, Elks Lodge and a 50-year member of the American Legion. He enjoyed watching football and was a huge Vikings fan.
Surviving Andy are his wife, Sue, of Williston; his two sons, Roger Manz, and his wife, Kathy, of Hampton, Va., and George Manz of Atlanta, Ga.; his grandchildren, Cynthia Pugh and husband, Daniel, and their children, Natalie Marie and Lucas Andrew, all of Virginia Beach, Va., and Stacie Splinter and her husband, Scott, of Hampton; sisters, Isabelle Capello of Milwaukee, Wis., and Betty Odette of Hollywood, Calif., and by several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Dale and Jim Manz.
Friends may call at the Everson Funeral Home, Williston on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 7 p---.m., Friday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. and at the church for the hour preceding the funeral.
Guests may visit the Everson Funeral Home Web site at www.eversonfh.com to share thoughts and remembrances of Andy.
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