Donald Anthony Manning

Donald “Moose” Manning passed away unexpectedly on July 13, 2016, due to complications following neck/spinal surgery. Don was born in Lewistown, MT August 4, 1944. He grew up in Billings, MT and attended Billings Catholic Schools and graduated Billings Central High School in 1962. While at Billings Central Don was a High School All American Football Player, on the United Press International All-State A Team, and also President of the Billings Central Student Council.

Throughout his athletic career, he was known affectionately by crowds of fans and radio announcers as “Moose”, and he very much enjoyed this nickname, and it stuck until many years later when his grandson, Mitchell, started calling him “Pa” and he affectionately became “Pa” to the entire family. As a talented athlete and scholar “Moose” was offered multiple scholarships to college and he accepted the Navy’s Reserve Officer Training Program at Stanford University. He played on the Stanford Freshman Football Team in 1963. Shortly before graduation he was approached by the Dallas Cowboys NFL Team and they invited him to tryout at their summer recruiting camp. Due to an injury he declined the offer but went on to graduate with a degree in Economics from Stanford in 1966.

He started his career at Price Waterhouse in Seattle, WA and then moved to the General Electric Nuclear Energy Division in San Jose, CA. He was later Director of Finance for Samsonite Luggage in Denver, CO.He married his High School sweetheart Georgia (Quilico) Manning in 1965. Georgia and Don celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Yellowstone National Park, reminiscing with family and friends in the same location where they celebrated their honeymoon.

Don was an avid fan of both Notre Dame and Stanford Football. However, being superstitious and not wanting to jinx his favorite team, he would record every game and then watch it later. He enjoyed competitive games of poker with family and friends, playing slot machines and betting on the horse races. A tradition was to celebrate Father’s Day, with his family, at Arapahoe Park Race Track.

He was immensely proud of his three sons and was a devoted family man. In 1976, he became one of the Founding members of the Colorado Society for Autistic Children (now known as the Autism Society of Colorado). He was dedicated to the work of the society to raise awareness for autism.

“Pa” had a passion for Western History and WWII. He read all he could and was like a walking encyclopedia of knowledge regarding both. He and his grandson, Mitchell, would often be caught staying up way past their bedtimes to watch their favorite movies especially It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World or any western movie starring John Wayne.

He had a special connection with animals and was a real dog lover. All the family dogs seemed to have a unique unspoken love for him, probably due to the fact that he often snuck treats to them under the table.

Don will be desperately missed by his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Philip S. Manning, his mother, Teresa (Soltero) Manning and his brother, John. He is survived by his wife, Georgia; his children, Steven, Craig (Tricia), Jonathan and his grandson, Mitchell; as well as his sister, Phyllis Adler and his brothers Mike and Tom (Christine), sister-in-law Robin Manning and many nieces and nephews. He will forever be in our hearts and loved throughout all of our days ahead.

Memorial services will be Friday, August 12, 2016 at 10:00 am in the Olinger Crown Hill Pavilion of Reflection.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/local-offices/denver-colorado/