May 27 1957 December 9 2019
Brad’s Obituary Brad Elliot Manuel, 62, of Olin, passed away, December 9, 2019 on his farm, with his family by his side, after a two year battle with lung cancer. Services will be held 2:00 Friday afternoon, December 13, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oxford Junction with Rev. Francis Odoom officiating. There will be visitation from 1:00 pm to the time of service at the church. A life celebration will follow the service at the Oxford Junction Legionnaire. Visitation will be from 3 until 7 Thursday, December 12, 2019 at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa. Private family burial services will be at a later date at Riverside Cemetery, Anamosa. Survivors include his wife, Patty; children Eric (Emily) Manuel and their children Brynn Everly and Weston Elliot, Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Niki (Sean) Davis and their children Hayden Rae and Parker Levi, Lisbon; sister Pam (Gaylen) Kray, Monticello and brother Jeff Manuel, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Stepbrother Bob (Donna) Shirbroun, Spirit Lake, and stepsister Terri (Brian) Heck, Clear Lake. He is also survived by his stepmother Charlene Manuel, Mason City; stepfather Dave Bowdish, Marion; father-in-law Lawrence Schwers and mother-in-law Edith Schwers, both of Anamosa; brother-in-law Kevin (Melinda) Posekany, Cedar Rapids; and many inlaws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Brad was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Gayelle, and sisters Lynda Manuel and Diane Posekany. Brad was born May 27, 1957 in Anamosa, Iowa, the son of John (Jack) E. Manuel and Gayelle B. Hall (Manuel Bowdish). He was a 1975 graduate of Olin High School. He married Patty Schwers in 1982 and together they raised two children, Eric and Nicole (Niki). Brad was raised on the family farm near Center Junction where he enjoyed all things farming and especially liked raising Saint Bernard’s. As an adult he was proud to purchase his own farm in 1986 on the “Highway to Hale”. He enjoyed raising cattle and crops, sharing beef with family and friends, until his health forced him to quit. He was extremely proud of his tree farm and the associated conservation awards. Brad’s passion for farming carried over to his career. He worked for the Clarence Cooperative (River Valley Cooperative), and later retired as a federal crop insurance adjuster, following in his father’s footsteps. Brad was active in the community as a volunteer firefighter, Jaycee, and most recently as a Hale Township Trustee. He loved traveling, fishing, golfing, gardening, mowing the acreage, being outdoors, and enjoyed most of those activities even through his illness. Brad’s greatest accomplishment and pride were his children and grandchildren who gave him opportunities to see himself in them. He always welcomed visits to the farm so grandkids Hayden and Parker could experience farm-life with their “Bumpa”, plant the garden, ride the Ranger and tractors, or feed the cattle. He enjoyed exploring the beauty of Colorado’s national parks and trails with granddaughter Brynn and he welcomed his fourth grandchild and namesake, Weston Elliot, a year ago. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to the Jones Soil & Water Conservation District Endowment Fund, or the Jones County Community Foundation (dbqfoundation.org/jones-county-community-foundation). The family wishes to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff within the Mercy Medical system, (especially Heidi for answering the phone at just the right moments of need), Hall Perrine, Mayo Clinic and Above & Beyond Hospice for the excellent care during Brad’s journey. As Brad would say, “Every day is a good day, some are just better than others”. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Brad Elliot Manuel May 27 1957 December 9 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Anamosa, state: Iowa