Memorial services for 89-year old Jack Mann of Chadron are Thurs, July 6, 2023, at 10:00 at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron
Inurnment with Military Honors will be the following day at 9:00 at the Roselawn Cemetery in Columbus, NE.
Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research (brightfocus.org/stopAD), the American Legion, or your favorite charity.
Online condolences may be left at chamberlainchapel.com
Jack Gordon Mann was born on February 11, 1934 in Haxtun, CO to Seymour and Della (McIntyre) Mann. He passed away on June 15, 2023,
After Jack was born, the family soon moved from Haxtun to Columbus, NE, and both Jack and his brother, Robert (born 1943), grew up in Columbus.
When Jack graduated from Columbus High School in 1952, he worked with his Dad, who had a carpentry business. For fun, he and some friends joined the local car racing circuit and won a few trophies!
Jack joined the Army 1954 and spent two years at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, NYC, working as an artillery machinist. Following his military service, Jack learned how to build houses from his father and built several in Columbus.
Jack was accepted into the Nebraska State Patrol in 1962 and married Edith Carson Mentzer in Columbus in 1963 (they were introduced by their Mothers, who were in the Rebekahs together). Jack, Edith, and Edith’s 4-year old daughter Lesley moved “home” to Ogallala and Gary was born in 1964.
Jack started taking flying lessons and received his pilot’s license in 1969. He also used his house building skills one more time in Ogallala and his family moved into the house that Jack built.
Receiving promotions in the State Patrol usually means relocating, and that was true for the Mann family. They moved to Broken Bow, North Platte, and back to Ogallala during his career. Jack was a member of the State Patrol Air Wing for many years and retired in 1982 as a Sergeant in Troop D.
Retirement meant buying a business, and Jack and Edith bought a NAPA Auto Parts franchise in Chadron in 1982. They worked together at Chadron Auto and Farm Parts until they sold the business in 2005.
They enjoyed Chadron, friends and neighbors, and were active in the community. Jack was a member of the Hospital Board for many years, including the construction years for the new Chadron Hospital. He also was very involved with the Fur Trade Days.
Jack and Edith had a touring motorcycle and enjoyed short day trips, as well as trips to other states. They also bought a park model home in Arizona to enjoy warm weather in the winter and more motorcycle trips.
They were members of an international motorcycle club for people over 40 called the Retreads, and met many people at Retread Rallies across the country.
Jack lost Edith to Alzheimers in 2009 and moved into a duplex that he and Larry Provance designed. He continued to ride his motorcycle with friends for several more years.
In 2019, finally tired of eating microwave meals, Jack moved into an independent living apartment at Prairie Pines and thoroughly enjoyed new and old friendships and many conversations in the dining room.
This past April, Jack’s health declined quickly after a series of strokes and he passed away on June 15, 2023, at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs, NE.
Jack is survived by his daughter Lesley Prewitt of Aurora, CO; son Gary (Cindee) Mann of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren: Taylor (Paul) School of Anchorage, AK, Jenna (George) Neuberger of Fuquay Varina, NC, Allina (Martin) Prather, Patrick (Tahnee) Wilson, and Lamira Mann of Tucson, AZ; and three great-grandchildren.
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for Jack Mann.