Obit: Manson, Alan (1943 - 2019)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Cecil, Kress, LaVallee, Manson, Nivison

----Source: The Ladysmith News (Ladysmith, WI) 2/18/2019

Manson, Alan “Al” (3 APR 1943 - 13 FEB 2019)

Alan “Al” Manson, 75, of Ladysmith, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, in Marshfield.

Al was born on April 13, 1943, in Madison, to Alexander D. Manson and Mona Victoria (Nivison) Manson. He graduated from Madison West High School in l961 and from Lawrence University in Appleton in l965. He also earned a master’s degree in English from UW-Madison.
Al served as a Peace Corps Volunteer from l966 to l968 in southern Chile, where he worked in community organizing/forestry programs.

He taught high school English in inner-city Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee. From l969 to l976, Al taught English in non-inner-city Weyerhaeuser. Al served as a director of Northwest United Educators from l976 to 2001. He served as president of the United Staff Union of Uniserv Directors for four years.

He was chair of the Rusk County Democratic Party for more than 10 years and served on the Ladysmith School Board for six years, where he was presently the chair. Al was active in other community organizations. He served on the Barron County Board of Supervisors and was chair for the All Seasons Food Co-op in Rice Lake for 20 years. He was a member of the ACLU, Amnesty International, Planned Parenthood, NEA-WEAC, Wisconsin Retired Educators Association and Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Rice Lake.

Al is survived by his wife, Colleen Peters; his son, Alexander and daughter, Mary (Bill) Cecil. He is also survived by his sister, Mona Manson; first wife, Karen Kress; sister-in-law, Carolyn Manson; niece, Cindy Manson (Tim LaVallee); nephew, John Manson and great-niece, Fiona Manson.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Donald Manson.

Al devoted nearly his entire adult life to education, to improving the lives of children and to improving the lives of all through more responsible and compassionate government.

A celebration of Al’s life will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28 at Tee-Away in Ladysmith from 4 to 7 p.m. We invite you to bring stories to share of your memories of Al.

The family requests any memorials be directed to the Ladysmith Educational Enrichment Fund (LEEF), Habitat for Humanity or Hope Lodge in Marshfield.

A private family burial will be held at a later date.