Norma Jean Manz

January 28, 1921 - November 5, 2018

Norma Jean Manz, 97, passed away Monday, November 5, 2018 at her home in Pratt. She was born January 28, 1921 to William G. and Laura (Gasswint) Kidd in Marion. She attended country schools in and around Junction City and graduated from Junction City High School in 1938. She married Kearney W. Manz on September 17, 1939 at Junction City and they lived on a farm near Milford, Kansas until 1961 when the Milford Reservoir was built, and they had to move. They lived north of Eskridge, Kansas where they farmed until 1964. In 1984, they returned to Junction City and lived there until 1991, when they moved to Pratt to be closer to family. Kearney died June 29, 1998. Norma Jean was a homemaker and she and Kearney were foster parents for 20 years from 1970 to 1990 caring for more than 30 foster children during that time. Norma Jean loved to read, gardening, do needlework and always had lots of African Violets, which she enjoyed. She enjoyed water/oil painting, and it became a self-taught hobby. Her paintings usually were mountain scenes, and she shared those paintings with all her family. As a child, she was given a canary, and over her lifetime continued to raise canaries. Many of her hobbies, she passed on to her children and great grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Terry K. Manz and wife, Carol of Frisco, Texas, Anita K. Manz-Harrold of Pratt and Roger M. Manz and wife Cynthia of Alma; five grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Norma Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kearney; two brothers, William G. Kidd, Jr. and James D. Kidd; and grandson, Jeremy Harrold in 1995. Graveside Service only will be held at 2:00p.m., Friday, November 9, 2018 at St. John’s Cemetery, west of Junction City with Reverend Thomas Sutter presiding. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Cemetery Fund in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, Kansas.