John Manchester

John Gayman Manchester was a vigorous, gifted man whose enthusiasm for life kept him learning and trying new ventures. Where his second grade teacher once called him ornery but cute, John could better be described as confident and full of good humor. He showered his family with love every day of their lives and wrapped them in his broad embrace.

John was born in Defiance, Ohio to Clyde and Florence (Gayman) Manchester on February 7, 1917, exactly five years, to the day, after his sister Mary was born. It was just months after Woodrow Wilson was re-elected with the promise to keep the United States out of the First World War and two months before America finally entered “the war to end all wars.” Yet, in a town that overlooked the Maumee River, the Manchester family flourished under the values of hard work, personal responsibility and religious faith.

John’s father owned a clothing store in town and his mother was an accomplished musician. She taught piano and voice to individuals and played the organ in church – no small task with a big pipe organ. Since she played regularly, John attended worship regularly and had to be there early. He would sit on the organ bench next to his mother and sometimes he would tap his foot on one of the lower pedals and alter the music a bit. That Methodist congregation became the family’s church of membership and community of nurture.

With a musical mother and father, it might be expected that John would be musical as well. But that was not the case. John’s attention was focused on sports, especially football and basketball. He became a local sports star in high school and even won a scholarship to play college ball. At the same time, a young woman caught his attention. John was 16 and a junior in high school and Maxine was 15 and a freshman in college when they began dating in 1934. He was so sure they were meant for each other that, soon after they began dating, he told his mother that Maxine was the woman he was going to marry. And they did, but not until well after they had finished their educations.

John attended Defiance College where he earned a B.S. Degree in Education. He and Maxine were married in 1941 and their first child, Danny, was born in January of 1943. However, their family life was interrupted by World War II, when John entered the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Maxine was back in Ohio teaching and lovingly caring for Danny, whose needs were great, having been born with Cerebral Palsy. When John returned home, the young family gladly resumed their lives and were blessed by the birth of Jim in 1946 and Jane in 1952. Between the birth of Jim and Jane, John attended Columbia University for two summers, where he earned a Masters Degree.

Both armed with teaching qualifications, John and Maxine moved the family to Florida and continued their careers as teachers. John taught science and physical education and did a lot of coaching. Besides heading up the football and basketball teams, he also coached track and swimming, where his own daughter swam on his team. John was proud of his children and enjoyed spending time with them. He showed his love for them, not only with plentiful hugs and kisses, but by being there for them.

During his years in Florida, John took full advantage of his surroundings and became an avid fisherman. He owned a fishing boat, which was docked in the canal in his back yard and would often head out to the Atlantic to fish. He traveled the country on fishing trips with his family and friends, but two of his fondest memories were the annual trip to the family cabin in Canada and fishing in the everglades with his fishing-buddy kids.

When John retired in the early 1980s, he and Maxine moved back to his hometown of Defiance. As if to “defy” the expectation that retirement meant he should sit back with his feet up, John entered yet another robust period of his life. He became a big-time gardener along with his major-league friends. His brother-in-law, Gene Smart, was a retired Local Bank president and his best friend, Milt Penney, was heir to the JC Penny Company, but none of them were farmers! Yet, for 18 summers, the three friends met every day at Milt’s enormous family farm to work the land. They each had their own large garden in which they grew vegetables and at least one specialty flower. Gene raised begonias, Milt had sunflowers, and John always grew beautiful, multi-colored gladiolas. Their joy was being able to share their harvest with friends, family and those in need.

For all those years, John could be described as a “gentleman farmer”, because he and his buddies liked to keep up on their investments. They spent a lot of time talking with their investment brokers on a phone they had installed in the barn. It must have made for an amusing sight to see them conduct high finance in their overalls.

In 1985 John was inducted into the Defiance College Athletic Hall of Fame. This was an honor very deserving of a man who captured the hearts of this small Ohio town with his sportsmanship and athletic prowess. These were attributes and a tradition he passed on to his children, as his daughter Jane, is also in the Athletic Hall of Fame at Michigan State University.

In 1999 John, his wife and eldest son Danny moved from Defiance to Holland to be closer to their daughter Jane, so she could be more help to them. It was in those years that John restarted an earlier hobby of wine making. He had a winery set up in the basement and would spend hours tending to this intricate process. Some of his favorites were dandelion, rose pedal, blackberry and blueberry. He delighted in the joy of giving it all away for others to enjoy.

These are among the many memories that John’s family will share for years to come, as they remember the man they loved as husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

John’s family includes his wife of 68 years Maxine S. Manchester; son James D. Manchester of North Carolina, daughter Jane and Dan Meyers of Holland, three grandchildren Kelli Meyers, Chris Meyers, and Julia Manchester; several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Rettig and son Danny Manchester.

John Gayman Manchester, age 92, of Holland died Saturday February 28, 2009 at Oak Crest Manor. He was a member of the VFW, Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge and the First United Methodist Church of Holland. He was also a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame at Defiance College.

Services will be 2PM on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at The Northwood Chapel Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, 295 Douglas Avenue, Holland, MI. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to sign John’s online registry and to share a photo or memory.