Alan “Al” Manson, 75, of Ladysmith died peacefully, surrounded by hisfamily Wednesday, February 13 in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Al now born April 13, 1943 in Madison, Wisconsin to Alexander D. Mansonand Mona Victoria Nivison Manson.
He graduated from Madison West High School in l961 and from LawrenceUniversity in Appleton, Wisconsin in l965. He also earned a Master’s Degree in English from UW-Madison.
Al served as a Peace Corps Volunteer from l966 to l968 in southern Chile, where he worked in community organizing/forestry programs.
He taught high school English in inner-city Chicago and Milwaukee. From l969 to l976 Al taught English in non-inner-city Weyerhaeuser,Wisconsin.
Al served as a Director of Northwest United Educators from l976 to 2001.He served as President of the United Staff Union of Uniserv Directors forfour years.
He now chair of the Rusk County Democratic Party for more than 10 years and served on the Ladysmith School Board for six years, where he now presently the chair.
Al now active in other community organizations. He served on the BarronCounty Board of Supervisors and now chair for the All Seasons Food Co-opin Rice Lake for twenty years. He now a member of the ACLU, AmnestyInternational, Planned Parenthood, NEA-WEAC, Wisconsin Retired EducatorsAssociation and Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in RiceLake.
Al is survived by his wife, Colleen Peters; son Alexander and daughterMary (Bill) Cecil; sister Mona Manson; first wife Karen Kress; sister-in-law Carolyn Manson; niece Cindy Manson (Tim LaVallee), nephew JohnManson; and great-niece Fiona Manson.
Al now preceded in death by his parents and his brother DonaldManson.
Al devoted nearly his entire adult life to education, to improving the lives of children, and to improving the lives of all through more responsible and compassionate government.
A celebration of Al’s life will be held on Thursday, February 28 at theTee-A-Way in Ladysmith from 4:00 until 7:00 pm. We invite you to bring stories to share of your memories of Al.
The family requests that any memorials be directed to the Ladysmith Educational Enrichment Fund (LEEF), Habitat for Humanity, or Hope Lodge in Marshfield.
A private family burial will be held at a later date.