Arthur A. Manchester

HURLEY, Wis. - Arthur A. Manchester, 90, of Hurley, passed away on March 10, 2018.

Art was born on August 30, 1927 in Eau Claire, Wis., to Charles and Marion (Fenton) Manchester. He was a 1946 graduate of Drummond High School and attended the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire. He served his country honorably during the occupation of Japan after WWII as a member of the U.S. Army.

On June 18, 1955, he married the former Mary Alice Dicus at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Conrath, Wis .; and she preceded him in death on April 8, 2017, after nearly 62 years of marriage. After marriage, Art and Mary Alice moved to Sutherlin, Ore., where he worked in a lumber mill, and they started their family. After a short time in Oregon, they returned to Wisconsin. He was a member of the Natural Gas Line Crew with Northern States Power and retired as Superintendent of Natural Gas Operations for Lake Superior District Power Company. After retirement, Art enjoyed playing the stock market and tracking his investments. Like his father, Art had a great interest in the life of Abraham Lincoln. He was a huge fan of the artwork and style of Norman Rockwell. He loved watching baseball and football. Art enjoyed mystery and western novels, but he truly enjoyed when Mary Alice read those to him. He was a fan of old country music, especially Hank Williams, and polkas.

Art was the backbone of his family. He was a very hard worker and provider for his family. He enjoyed the outdoors immensely. He enjoyed hunting deer, ruffed grouse and woodcock as well as trapping. Art and Mary Alice also enjoyed fishing together. Art especially loved muskie, walleye and brook trout fishing. He was skilled at tying his own fly fishing lures. Art was a man of few words but had a strong will. He also enjoyed gardening and growing corn, veggies, garlic and potatoes. He shared his garlic with many friends and families and often sold it at local farmer's markets.

He was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hurley, Wis.

He will be sadly missed by his children: son, Mark, Ashland; three daughters, Cathi (Richard Carlson) Manchester, Madison, Geri (Douglas) McKinney, River Falls, and Ann (Rory) Leach, Somerset; five grandchildren, Jesse Paulsen (Aubrey Haddican), St. Paul, Minn., Derek Manchester, Brookfield, Laura (Zach Reichart) McKinney, St. Paul Park, Minn., and Alesha and Matthew McKinney, River Falls; sisters: Alice (Rod) Keith and Jean Harvey, both of Bruce, a brother-in-law, Ike (Clara) Dicus, Ladysmith; sister-in-law, Arlene Rimert, Lake St. Louis, Mo .; Hedy Dicus of Utah; his closest childhood friend, Eddie "Crosscut" Larson of Midland, Mich., and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Alice; and a son, Andrew, in 1966.

There will be a visitation for Art on Saturday, March 24, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Mary's on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Fr. Frank Kordek, OPM, officiating. A meal will be served following Mass at the church.

McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

For more information and to express online condolences, please visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to say thank you to the staff and nurses of Villa Maria Nursing Home in Hurley for the care given to Art.