Ballard Manns of Silver Lake, went to be with the Lord at 2:08 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2015, at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne, at the age of 76 with his family by his side
He worked for 35 years for Dalton Foundries in Warsaw, retiring in 1995 as a supervisor and partial owner. Ballard enjoyed fishing in Alaska with his son Mike, deer hunting and helping others. He was a very generous man, hard working, and most of all he was a loving father.
He was born on Feb. 1, 1939 in Prestonsburg, Ky., to Ellis Manns and Daisy (Bradford) Manns. On April 18, 1959, he was married to Barbara Joann (Hill) Manns, who survives in Silver Lake.
He will be lovingly remembered by his son: Mike (wife Nancy) Manns, Kasilof, Alaska; two daughters: Susan (husband John) Bellamy, Warsaw, and Sharon Fitzgerald, Leesburg.
Also surviving are 13 grandchildren: Jeremy and Jonathan Manns; Terry Hughes; Brandon, Anthony, and Logan Fitzgerald; Brandon, Justin, Austin, Dylan, Olivia, Hannah, and Reenie Bellamy; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He leave behind five brothers: George (wife Eula) Manns, Palestine; Lawrence Manns, Warsaw; Willard (wife Sue) Manns, Akron; Ed Manns, Silver Lake; Dale (wife Sue) Manns, Warsaw; six sisters: Annie Grace (husband Luther) Bailey, Claypool; Dorothy Bailey, Akron; Mary Bell (husband James) Overbey, Claypool; Ruby Jean Keitzer, Fort Wayne; Marcella (husband Lonnie) Dillon, Akron and Jenny Emmons, Silver Lake.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother William Manns.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at First Free Will Baptist Church of Kosciusko County, 58 W. 700 S., Claypool.
His funeral service will be conducted at First Free Will Baptist Church of Kosciusko County at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, and officiated by Pastor Terry Bradford and assisted by Pastor John B. Lowe.
Burial will follow with a graveside service at Akron Cemetery in Akron. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.
Memorial donations may be directed to Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House, 7922 W. Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804 and would be appreciated by his family.