William Mann Obituary

Bill passed away on May 6 at MacKenzie Place due to complications from Alzheimers. He was born August 4, 1928 in Mascoutah, Illinois to Florence and Ervin Mann. After attending the University of Illinois and graduating from McKendree College with a chemistry degree, Bill entered the Air Force and was first assigned to Lowery Air Force Base in Denver as an instructor in the Intelligence School. Thus began his love for Colorado. However, his assignment in Denver was cut short when he was reassigned in Tokyo, Japan, at the Headquarters for the Far East Air Force to support the Korean War. There he met and married his first wife Eileen McLaughlin. Following his assignment in Japan, Bill was next assigned to Ent Air Base where he worked as an intelligence analyst until a reassignment sent him to Lindsey Air Force Station in Wiesbaden, Germany, where he worked in Electronics Intelligence Central Europe for three years. While in Germany, Bill and Eileen adopted a daughter Anneliese. His active duty career of fourteen years ended back in Colorado Springs, and he then continued working as a civilian analyst for the Air Force for eighteen years. Following retirement from federal service after thirty two years, Bill's final job was as a contractor for the Air Force with Lockheed.

Colorado provided Bill with opportunity for his many outside interests. He so loved skiing that he became a ski instructor and, as a second job, taught skiing at the Broadmoor for many years. He was a thirty five year member of the Rocky Mountain Professional Ski Instructors of America. Other interests included fly fishing, camping, golfing, and travel. In his retirement he also volunteered on mobile blood drives for Memorial Hospital for close to two decades. Friends and family will most certainly miss his sense of humor, love of life, generosity, and some will even miss his special gin or vodka martinis.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife Eileen and his brother Richard Mann.

He is survived by his sister Connie Freels (Centralia, Illinois), his sister-in-law Marge Mann (Moro, Illinois), his second wife Kendra of twenty five years, daughter Anneliese Martin and two grandchildren, William and Kieran.

No services are planned; interment will be in Mascoutah, Illinois.

In Bill's memory, contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Colorado Springs, 610 Abbott Lane, Colorado Springs 80905, or to the Alzheimer's Association, Colorado Chapter, 455 Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80203.

Many heartfelt thanks for the compassionate and supportive staffs at MacKenzie Place and Legacy Hospice.