Sidney Manness slipped peacefully away April 14, leaving behind a troubled world, one that changed so much in his span of 102 years. Our father's memories were most vivid of this period. He was told of the roaring '20's by his mother, lived the depression years of the thirties, saw the ravages of the war years, started a young family in the fifties, reaped the benefits of a strong, stable farm economy through the seventies and eighties, and then retired. His parents Alfred and Inger (Bjorstrom) provided early love and support, good family times, strengthened by a firm faith. He was guided into his adolescence by his loving brother, and four sisters. He left school early (16) and worked on the Domain farm from that age until he signed up to help defend his country. Our father was much of the old way, the way of his pioneering grandfather, Frederick William - meaning early to bed/ early to rise/worship on Sunday/work hard/ save even harder and above all - respect nature and the changing seasons through which God speaks and provides his countenance. He was the second son of Alfred James and Inger Marianne Manness. He was a staunch defender of the Depression Years- to be forever influenced by these difficult times of drought, of unemployment, lack of opportunity, and general economic malaise. Our father was conditioned to believe that our earthly journey had to include a full day's work. He was extremely proud of his Manness heritage, and also his mother's Norwegian, Lutheran background, she herself an American from near Osakis, Minnesota, a very close family of 11 siblings.
Our father travelled North America on many vacations, but did not stray too far from the farming and seed grain industries he loved. Again he grew up quickly in the sense that he left formal schooling after grade eight, married our mother, Helen Julia Kosior in 1943, and then reset into farming after military discharge in 1946. He and our mother would farm the Domain land, starting with very little, but were given opportunity by his parents, and would continue to farm actively until 1989, eventually moving to Winnipeg in 1993.
Sidney was not unique in terms of his views of the past, his conservatism, his work ethic, his honesty, and his religious beliefs. He believed in God, his Son Jesus, and salvation. He enjoyed spirited discussions and at times created laughter. Our father was a good story teller; and, at times would use broken English dialogues to colour his stories. Today this would be considered not politically correct – our father hated the political correctness of today’s society.
Dad was successful, as his father before him, took risks, focused most exclusively on the farm, and because of good weather was rewarded. Our father very rarely took on more responsibility, more land, than he could handle. A new farm improvement project, would never languish, or be postponed, it would have full attention until it was completed. Nothing would interfere with completion of the farm work. He worked at a constant pace- never slow but never super fast either- just constant. He rarely swore, and never used the Lord's name in vain. At times he provided greater leadership to the Community, such as leading the financing and budgeting of the ice arena, but normally his time away from completing another cultivation of his summerfallow, or the haying operation would not be compromised.
He did very much appreciate the local legion, Domain Branch 208. He was a charter member in 1947 and served in various capacities over the years becoming a life member years ago and attaining his 75 year pin recently. This organization kept him connected to his home town and past.
Three children were born to Sid and Helen, namely Clayton (married Cheryl Reinsch, and four children, Scott, Jason, Christine, and Alan); Maureen (Larry Hayes, and two children, Kevin and Kyle), and Ronald( Patricia Ross, and three children, Jocelyn, Graeme, and Matthew). Today the family has grown by yet another 17 great grandchildren.
It would be easy to go on and on, because from the outside it would appear that Dad had success. But longevity caught up to our father. He always planned so far ahead, and often very accurately predicted what might be coming. Our parent's left the farm at 67, left Domain at 75 years of age, to move closer to health services for an expected 10 years years to live. He would rarely not be prepared for the next chapter in his life. His business affairs were always in order.
But old age would be too kind to him. Dad has lived to 102. As he shared with us, some of the time while at old friend's funerals, he had outlived all of his friends, and was lonely in many respects.
So our father lived a very full life, he could be rigid, of strong opinion, unabashedly conservative, loving to his children and his grandchildren, devoted beyond belief to our mother, but at the end he felt not connected to the world that had changed so much in over the years he had experienced.
Well done our Father. We love you dearly. Rest in peace.
A Service of Remembrance has been set for April 25, 10 am, at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, with a luncheon following. Weather permitting, Sid will be laid to rest at Avonlea United Cemetery, at Domain.
We the family want to thank Dr. Coates who provided steadfast care to both of our parents over many years, and the staff at the Simkin Centre for outstanding care.
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