Alexander Albert Anton Manz

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Memorial Service
Second Presbyterian Church Chapel
600 Pleasant Valley Dr.
Little Rock, AR  72227
Saturday, October 8, 2022
2 pm
I served in the Navy.

Alexander Albert Anton ManzI am a Veteran.

of Little Rock, AR

April 10, 1927 - September 17, 2022

Alexander Albert Anton Manz was born on April 10, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois, to Albert Anton Manz & Marie Louise Wiener. Albert was a Swiss citizen in the US on a visitor's visa when he married Marie, a 1st generation American, whose parents immigrated from Germany. When Alex was 6 months old, Albert took his family back to Nice, France. In March of 1930, his sister Erica was born. The children spoke Swiss German at home and French in school. When WW II broke out in September 1939, their family was separated, 12-year-old Alex was sent to live and work on a farm in Switzerland. His sister was sent to a Swiss convent and his parents remained in France until they were reunited in Zurich, Switzerland, by 1945 at war's end. After graduating high school at age 16, he attended an agricultural college (The Strickhof) for 2 years then completed 2 years of mandatory service in the Swiss Army. In 1947, his mother died of Leukemia. One day shy of his 21st birthday, Alex and Erica immigrated to the US. Alex worked in Illinois on several farms for several years to earn money for college. Eventually he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Illinois.

When Alex's father remarried, he gained a step-mother, Maya and then his 2nd sister, Elisabeth. While beginning a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics, Alex met and married Majorie Grace Shook in 1953 (during the beginning of the Korean War). Alex received an Army draft notice; consequently, he foiled the Army and joined the Navy. He was accepted into the officers' program. After finishing Navy training and moving to California, daughter Marjorie (Marji) was born in March 1955. Daughter Anne-Marie (Ammie) followed in November 1956, while he & Marj finished their Master's degrees at the University of Illinois. Afterwards, Alex was hired by the US Department of Agriculture as a statistician for the Des Moines, Iowa, office; it was here that son Alexander (Alex) was born in November 1957. In the spring of 1958, they moved again to Chicago. In January 1960, their family was complete with the birth of son Eric. Due to a high cost of living in Chicago, Alex Sr. transferred to the Springfield, Illinois, office. After a promotion, the family was back in Des Moines. In the following years, Marjorie and Alex Sr. grew apart, separated and divorced.

In 1975, Alex Sr. relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas, and married Elizabeth (Betty) Brower. During their 47 years of marriage, they became seasoned European travelers. Betty and Alex had several things in common: love of travel, good food /wine, the Arkansas Symphony, and FOX News. After retiring from the Crop Reporting Service, he taught German for 7 years in two North Little Rock Schools. He also did volunteer service with the "Over-The-Hill Gang" retirees working for Habitat for Humanity. He survived pancreatic cancer in 2013, and was given a wonderful 90th birthday celebration in 2017. With declining health in the past couple of years, devoted wife Betty became a capable caregiver. On Saturday September 17, 2022, Alex died at the hospital after a catastrophic heart attack at the age of 95 years old.

Preceded in death by beloved daughter, Marji (Manz) Klingaman; son-in-law, Earl Raymond Banks; great grandsons, Dawson Earl Brown and Leo Klingaman. He leaves behind his loving wife, Betty; sisters, Erica Chizmar of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Elisabeth Roth of Hoffeld, Switzerland; daughters, Anne-Marie (Manz) Banks of Olathe, Kansas; Lorie Sharpe of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; sons, Alex Jr. of Columbus, Ohio; and Eric of Des Moines, Iowa. Alex is also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held, 2 pm, Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.



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7 Condolence(s)
Allen and Marliese Kerr
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Saturday, October 8, 2022

Betty, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Alex was a great American and we are so glad we had the privilege to know him. Please let us know if we can do anything for you!

Sending hugs,
Allen and Marliese Kerr

Alex Manz
Columbus, OH
Liked
Saturday, October 1, 2022

My Dad has been my biggest inspiration to do well in my life, and I will never be able to thank him enough. He was deeply devoted to his children, and a loving husband and companion to Betty for almost 50 years. His patriotism to the United States was second-to-none, and his passion for helping others was evident by his years of volunteering with the "Over-the-Hill Gang" and their work in restoring homes for Habitat For Humanity. He left a great legacy for me to emulate. I miss him dearly. Rest in peace, Dad!

Les Bledsoe
North Little Rock, AR
Liked
Saturday, October 1, 2022

Alex and I worked together for many years with USDA/NASS. He was a great co-worker and I considered him a dear friend. He arranged for me to go to Germany with NLR students for a student exchange with students in Berchtesgaden. What a memorable time being with families from a foreign country! I'll always cherish that experience and Alex made that possible. He also taught my two daughters German at North Little Rock High School. They always called him Herr Manz. I always received Christmas cards from Alex and his wife, Betty, every Christmas. May God bless his wife and may Alex find rest in being with the Lord eternally. Rest in peace, my friend.

Mike McWilliams
Little Rock,, AR
Liked
Friday, September 30, 2022

Betty,
I met and worked with Alex and the Over the Hill Gang, which was a terrific experience. When Alex found out that I had been stationed with the military in Germany, we always had a good time discussing the sites in Europe. I have really missed those times together in recent years. He was an interesting individual.
Mike McWilliams

Beverly Thornburg
Maumelle, AR
Liked
Friday, September 30, 2022

Alex was a gentleman who graced all he met with kindness & respect. He made the world a better place. May God bless & comfort him.

Anne-Marie Banks
Olathe, KS
Liked
Thursday, September 29, 2022

I miss you Papa. You taught me how to polka & waltz. You helped me to appreciate my European roots. I love my memories of our family vacations, Swiss chocolate at Christmas time (from Grandfather Albert), German Christmas bread/ cookies. Thank you for teaching me to make Swiss apple pies & great chili. I won't miss our French lessons; sorry Dad but I am American at heart, but thank you for my beautiful French name - Anne-Marie.

Scott Noble
Phoenix, AZ
Liked
Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Uncle Alex-

Thank you for contributing to the warm, happy---and fun memories that my sister, and my brother and I share of summers in Iowa! I still miss your fried, breaded okra!! In later years, both you and Aunt Betty were there for family reunions ALL OVER the United States--and even my wedding in California.

You set an example of how to live life--and CELEBRATE life--with love and dedication that all of us should follow. Thank you most of all for that! God bless you!