November 15, 1920 – September 2, 2011
Don passed away peacefully and now is home with God. He will be greatly missed and remembered by his family. Predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Eleanor; his second wife Matle and his brothers, Fred, Joe, Bruce, Tommy and Paul. Survived by his wife, Myrtle; sisters, Cathy and Rose; sister-in-law, Norma; his children, Steve (Joan), Ross (Diane), David (Allie), Karen, Marlene (Randy); his 16 grandchildren, Elise (Brent), Colin (Lindsey), Jordan (Cherie), Tanya, Kathi, Rachel (Art), Trevor, Graeme (Yvonne), Rebecca, Jared, Tim, Nicole, Kym, Trent, Hayden and Troy; his eight great-grandchildren, Ava, Nathan, Levi, Georgette, Elizabeth, Juliette, Rosalee and Kimberly. Dad was born in Calgary and came to Victoria in 1942. With hard work and determination, he started Don’s Tractor Service in 1947. The business grew into Don Mann Excavating Ltd. after he bought his first backhoe in 1956. He is known for his strong work ethic and creative mechanics (he could repair just about anything). Don enjoyed being in the great outdoors – hunting, camping and canoeing. He always had a joke ready to tell. His deep faith and love for God manifested itself as he served the community and his church family. Special thanks to the staff at Island View Place for their kind and compassionate care of Dad.
A Celebration of Dad’s Life will be held at the Shelbourne Street Church of Christ, 3460 Shelbourne Street on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Spruston Road Bible Camp, c/o 2530 Monte Vista Way, Victoria, BC V8Z 6Z1. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
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jane and ted baker
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Jacques van Bodegraven The Mann family,
My condolences to the whole Mann family with the loss of Mr D.Mann.
Lots of strength in dealing with your great loss.
Jacques
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Chow Low Hammond Architects Inc Steve and Family;
On behalf of the Partners and Staff of Chow Low Hammond Architects, we would like to express our sincere condolences to you and your family. We are sorry to hear of your loss. Although we did not have the pleasure of knowing your father | grandfather, we do know he has left a legacy of family that carries his name and ethics. We are priviledged to work with the Mann family knowing where it all began. Your family are in our thoughts and our prayers. God Bless!
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Ron and Carol Schieck Steve and family;
Sorry to learn of your loss, your Dad sounds like he “lived long and lived and finished strong”. He is now celebrating the “really good life”.
May the Lord wrap His arms of love and peace around you and your family at this time of loss.
Blessings on each of you,
Ron and Carol
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Bill & Sandy Kowalski Randy, Marlene and family, We were so very sorry to hear of your father’s (grandfather’s) passing. May God Bless you with his comfort and his strength at this very sad time. Your dad will have many glad reunions on the other side – maybe he will be greeting mom and dad and Owen. Would be so nice to know exactly how that works??? You are in our thoughts and prayers…We send our love and kisses. Bill & Sandy
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Ross Simmonds & family Dear Steve, Ross and families
Sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad,
He was an inspiration to all of us,
someone to be proud of who has left
you with alot of memories
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joe mcinnes So sorry for your loss…he was a man of great integrity and I’m thankful to have known him…thinking of you all…
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joe mcinnes So sorry for your loss…he was a man of great integrity and I’m thankful to have known him…thinking of you all.
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Tony and Myrna Sander Thinking of you at this difficult time. You are in our hearts and prayers.
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bert broughton Sincere condolences to your entire family. We are thinking of you during this time. He was a wonderful man.
From Lorne and Phylis & Laurie and Debbie & Bert Broughton
L.B. Cranes & Bert Enterprises.God Bless You All!
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Pamela (Mann) Foster Dear Cousins and Family,
Though you are mourning the loss of your Dad, no doubt you are relieved that he is finally at rest and free of ‘the troubles of the world’. My fondest memory of Uncle Don is of him enthusiatically belting out “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder!” May you find comfort in your faith that his name will be called as a good and faithful servant.
Love,
Pamela
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Donna Wilkerson Dear Steve, Ross, David, Karen, Marlene & Families,
I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Don mainly because I know you will all miss him. He was blessed with a good life with a wonderful family to be near him. I know he is with his Lord now without any pain and suffering. I have many wonderful memories myself of Don and he will always have a special place in my heart. When I started to work for the family business I was always treated like family. I prayer that God will give you peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Love,
Donna Wilkerson
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Maureen Fleming To all the Mann Family,
I just wanted to say I wish I could be there with you on Sunday afternoon and share in the few tears and the many smiles and laughs that will be part of sharing the life story of your Dad.
I remember the warm hospitality of your father and mother’s home on a Sunday noon, on the first trip my family and I made to Victoria, many years ago. Don Mann always made me smile. Even in the last years, when Norma and I would stop to see him on my way to or from the airport. May God Bless You All.
Love and Prayers, Maureen Fleming
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lawrence keys to the mann family,i recentlly started working for don man and i admire the name and have great pride and respect for the man that started the company,with out him we would not be here,i send my deepest condolences
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Leon and Connie Jeal Dear Steve, Ross, Dave, Karen, Marlene and families,
God be praised for the faith of your parents and their legacy that we see living in each of you!
We are thinking of you in this time of loss and extend our condolences. The last years have been difficult and we’re grateful to know Don is now resting with our Lord and reunited with precious ones who went before him.
We each have special memories of Don. Leon remembers a day hunt up island with Don. Connie remembers a season of dinner and scrabble games with Don in our home and praying with him during a Sunday morning service. Don showed us many kindnesses over the years for which we are thankful.
The Lord be with each one of you and may His arms be your comfort.
Love,
Leon & Connie Jeal
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Wes and Doreen Dear family –
We all have many memories of your Dad and we know that you have many more and that these wonderful memories will live on with you.
The first memory I (Wes) had of him was sitting in church when he pulled out a pencil and got my attention. He had his legs crossed and I then watched him stick a pencil through his sock at the ankle and the pencil coming out the other side. I was five or six years old. My eyes bugged out and my mouth dropped open!!!!
In some respects Don was like a second father to me. I looked up to him with great admiration.
May God bless and keep you all in his care at this time,
Wes and Doreen
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Barry and Linda Davies Our deepest sympathy to the family for your loss. If Marlene is a reflection of the family, he must have been a very fine man. Please accept our love and prayers.
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Susan English God Bless your family during this time. We know you will miss your Dad very much. He was a wonderful person.
Thinking of you,
Reva Meyer and Susan English
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Wanda Nordstrom Dear Marlene, Randy and extended families,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. May the Lord give you peace and comfort as only He can at these times in our lives. I can’t help but think of all of our family members that have gone on before us, meeting and worshiping God together. How incredibly beautiful a worship it must be! Marlene, your Dad must be so proud to have a daughter like you. We are so happy you are a part of our family.
Love you hon!
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Karen Shortt Dear Steve, Ross, David, Karen and Marlene,
My deepest condolences to each of you and your families in the recent passing of your Dad. His godly life was an inspiration to many people. The article in Friday’s Times-Colonist was a fitting tribute to him and included a lot of information about Don that I had never known. May the peace and comfort of God and our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you during this time.
With sympathy,
Karen Shortt
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Steve McGlade Hi Steve, my condolences to the entire Mann family.
What a guy!!, the most fearless backhoe operator I had the privilege to know. I remember one day we were working on a job and we needed to get a machine up on this bluff and Don came by and we said it couldn’t be done and Don said ”is that so”, 20 minutes later there he is on the top of this hill looking down on us with his familiar smile! He taught us a lot , how to get 10hrs into 8hr work day, but the best day i remember is when Don stopped by an excavation I was digging, got out of his truck and said nice job. I gained his respect that day. I’ll miss him.Steve
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Bart McNeill Dear Steve, Ross, David, Karen, Marlene & Families,
I am sorry for your loss, but I know there is a blessing involved as well.
Your Dad was a tremendous help to me and my family during various significant crises… a good friend, a caring brother and a wonderful example of “living” his faith.
Regretfully, I am not able to get the day off work to attend his celebration, but my thoughts will be there.
Love, Bart
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Sonya Podgorenko My condolences to the Mann family
I have wonderful memories of your Dad.
As a child growing up on Stockton Crest,
in my eyes he was the gentle giant with hard working hands
and a big smile. He will be missedThinking of you
Sonya Podgorenko
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Judy Cook Please accept my deepest sympathies in the loss of your Dad, and grandfather. His love for the Lord, his family and the causes he believed in…..ie Spruston Road Bible Camp…. were evident every time we had opportunity to be in his presence. His wonderful sense of humor always gave us a good chuckle.
As he has been welcomed into heaven, you can be confident that he has heard the welcome “Well done,, good and faithful servant!
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Ian MacLeod Ruth and I give our condolences to the entire Mann family. We grieve with you at your loss but also rejoice in a victorious live well-lived and look forward to meeting in heaven one day. Love from Ian and Ruth.
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David and Edith Blades We were very sad to hear of the passing of Don–our condolences to your family. One summer I (David) had the opportunity to work with Don and enjoyed every minute–he kept me laughing with his jokes and taught me how to be creative when facing a challenge. That was long ago now, but still a vivid experience. We’re sure that Don touched many loves this way and that legacy lives on. May you find comfort in faith and memory at this difficult time and in the months ahead.
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Merv and Lily Halvorson We were sorry to hear of Don’s passing, however cannot help but feel he is finally at rest with our Lord and Saviour. Our sympathy and prayers are with you all.
May Don rest in peace. With our love Merv & Lily
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Ralph Street My condolences to the entire Mann family on your loss. I certainly have some memories of Don when he was active in the business. Don was definitely one of the pioneers of our industry, one to be looked up to, and shall be missed.
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Terri Thomas (Bennett) Steven, I was sorry to read of your Dad’s passing. He certainly did lead a long life and I’m sure you have wonderful memories of your times together. He must have been proud of his children and surrounded by love. Thinking of you at this difficult time.
Terri
The Grace of God will always shine through each of you with the precious love your Dad and Mother held in their hearts for each of you and for the precious love each of you held in your hearts for them. May God so gently surround each of you with his healing love and all the beautiful memories be cherished in your hearts. What an outstanding citizen of Victoria Don was and has made our beautiful City a significant Business of Excellence “Don Mann Excavation” of which serves our Communities with excellence service and will always continue to carry on its outstanding service under the outstanding Management of Steve and Family. How Blessed it is! Ted had the great priviledge working in the trade business with his wonderful Father and your wonderful Father and shares many wonderful memories which he would share with you whenever we have the opportunity. May you rest in Peace Dear Don and we will always hear your whisper in our ears and hearts. Ever so Blessed for your Family A real honor and priviledge to know you, Precious Love Jane and Ted Baker