John Anthony Manser, 95, of Vancouver, WA, passed away March 31, 2020. John was born in 1925 in Portland to first-generation immigrants John Sr. and Frieda Manser (Nieger), from Appenzell, Switzerland. Growing up during the Great Depression in the Mocks Crest area blocks away from the University of Portland, John learned the value of hard work over summers as a farmhand with his cousins just outside what was then Parkrose.
A graduate of Roosevelt High School, he went on to serve in the Merchant Marines and experienced enemy fire during WWII. Upon returning home to Portland he later became a long-serving officer of the Portland Police Department as a dispatcher and patrolman, and married the love of his life, Carol (Jett), who he lost in 2010. Ever a hard worker, John also worked a second job for two decades to support his family delivering plumbing supplies for Peninsula Plumbing. John and Carol raised two children, Paula (Hoobing) and David.
An avid salmon fisherman, John loved the outdoors and could frequently be found on the banks of the Columbia River almost daily until age 90. A devout Catholic and quiet man, John had nary an enemy in the world. John was a lifelong sports fan who enjoyed playing golf with his wife Carol, and closely followed the Portland Trailblazers and the Oregon Ducks.
He passed away peacefully surrounded by his beloved family from complications stemming from an infection. He is survived by brother Joseph Manser, daughter Paula Hoobing, son David Manser, and grandchildren Stephanie Roe (Hoobing), Melany Caudill (Manser), Jennifer Hoobing, Neal Manser, Emily Hoobing and Glenn Manser, as well as three great grandchildren. He was laid to rest at Mount Cavalry Cemetery beside his parents and wife on April 13, 2020.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of John Anthony Manser, please visit our floral store.