Michael Fredrick Manning  

Michael Fredrick Manning  1944 ~ 2017
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Michael Fredrick Manning, passed away peacefully at 73 due to natural causes. He was surrounded by his family at his home on October 12, 2017. After 51 years of marriage and adventures with "chicken" he is off to his next one.
He was born February 4, 1944 to Joseph William and Mae Belle Gainsforth Manning in Lehi, Utah. Mike married his college sweetheart Colleen Madsen Manning in the Salt Lake Temple on June 22, 1966. They were blessed with two wonderful daughters, 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Mike graduated from Lehi High School and that very evening he left with friends to join the 1457th Engineers Battalion with the Utah National Guard. Mike had a deep love of this country and exemplified this by serving for 7 years. He attended college at Weber State and BYU where he remained a true blue cougar fan throughout his life. Mike worked for Distributors Inc., LDS Welfare Department, Big O Tires in Littleton, CO and Med One Capital in Sandy where he retired. He traveled extensively for each company even taking "chicken" to England, Hawaii, New York and etc. They enjoyed taking the entire family on vacations including a memorable trip to Palmrya, New York and Washington D.C.
Mike loved the Lord Jesus Christ and was a devoted member of the LDS Church. He served an LDS Mission to the South West British Mission and continued to be a missionary for the rest of his life.
Mike surprised his classmates and wife when he was called as Bishop of the Sandy 3rd Ward and later as Stake President of the Sandy Utah West Stake where he served for over 10 years. One of his greatest joys was being able to seal families together forever.
While living in Littleton, CO Mike and Colleen had the opportunity to serve in the Denver Temple Baptistry where youth came from all over the Midwest to do a special work for families. He also had the pleasure to serve many years as an Ordinance worker and Sealer in his beloved Jordan River Temple with his wife by his side. Mike was serving as Bishop when the Temple was announced and Stake President of the Sandy Utah West Stake when the Jordan River Temple was built and dedicated. This beautiful temple remains a very sacred and dear place to our family. Mike sought adventure in every turn. He loved to hunt and fish with family and friends. One of his favorite memories was of his once in a lifetime hunt for buffalo on Antelope Island with his two son-in-laws and friend. Many trips to Alaska, Mike still loved to fish in the beautiful mountains of Utah. He enjoyed being in the outdoors and observing the handiwork of God. He looked forward to Spring the budding of the trees and the changing of the fall colors of leaves and especially the smell of the cool clean mountain air.
Survived by his wife, his two daughters Nicole Wiley (John) of South Jordan and Denise Sagers (Darek) of West Jordan and their six amazing grandchildren: Kolten Brian Hill (Melanie), Korben Michael Hill, Hunter Nicole Hansen (Brady), Elder Remington Robert Wiley, Porter Bevan Sagers and Michaela Colleen Sagers, great-grandchildren, Clayton John Hill and McKinnley Nicole Hansen. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Tom and Dale and his sister Esther Mae, and Muffin, his faithful companion and best friend of 19 years.
The family wishes to express gratitude to the many family and friends who visited and to those who assisted with his care especially Lisa with Encompass Home and Hospice.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at 11:00 am the River 1st Ward, 1239 West Country Creek Drive, South Jordan, Utah. Viewings will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah and on Wednesday from 9:30-10:30 at the church. Interment at South Jordan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the LDS Missionary or LDS Temple funds. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.

Published in Deseret News on Oct. 15, 2017