Gerald John Manatt, Jr., 65, of Lakewood Ranch, FL, formerly of Victor and Brooklyn, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. A funeral mass was held at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Brooklyn at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, with Fr. Corey Close officiating. The burial service was in the Calvary Cemetery in Brooklyn.
John was the firstborn of Gerald John Manatt Sr. (Junie) and Doris (Hawkins) Manatt at St. Francis Hospital in Grinnell on Nov. 21, 1950. He was raised in Brooklyn where he attended and graduated from Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom High School in 1969. John grew up a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Brooklyn, where he was confirmed.
Following high school, John attended Loras College in Dubuque where he met his lifelong love Marlene Odell and was united in marriage with Marlene on Dec. 4, 1971, at Nativity Catholic Church in Dubuque. John graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration in 1973 and moved back to Brooklyn where the couple raised their four children.
John started working full-time at Manatts, Inc. for his father in 1972 (employee #12) and worked until retirement in 2006. John did it all through his years at Manatts from sweeping floors, to driving cement tankers and concrete trucks, to running concrete plants, to heading up ready mix division, and eventually owning the company with his brother and cousins. Through his work in the industry, John was active in the Iowa Ready Mix Concrete Association promot-ing and bettering the industry. He enjoyed annual conventions and social gatherings with colleagues, was President of IRMCA in 1982, and was inducted as an honorary member in 2009.
Most important to John were his faith and family. He was a very humble, kind, and brave man. John attended St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Victor and Lady of the Angel's Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch, FL. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends. Attending Jeep Jamborees, golfing, fishing, camping, attending the Iowa State Fair, and watching old movies, especially John Wayne movies, were among the many hobbies he enjoyed. He also followed all of his grandchildrens’ sporting, spiritual, and academic adventures with loving encour-agement. In 2010, John and Marlene moved to Lakewood Ranch where they eagerly welcomed friends and family to visit them often. John loved the Florida climate, living on the golf course, and showing others a great time in Florida. He even took up dancing with Marlene and occasionally could be found on a beach.
John is survived by his wife of 44 years, Marlene; his four children, Jennifer (Ken) Cline of Brooklyn, Chris Manatt of Cedar Falls, Joy (Gabe) VanLandschoot of Brooklyn, and Jonathan (Samantha) Manatt of Lynnville; 13 grandchildren, McKenna, Madison, and Maycee Cline, Kinzie and Kylie Manatt, Karissa and Ty Heishman, David, Abbee, and Vaughn VanLandschoot, and Sadie, Jasper, and Langlee Manatt; and five siblings, Debi Olson of Grinnell, Tim (Genevieve) Manatt of Cedar Falls, Melia (Steve) Rhoads of Brooklyn, Mary Jo (Jeff) Thompson of Brooklyn, and Mindy (Raymond) Holder of Brooklyn.
John was preceded in death by his grandparents; many loved aunts and uncles; his mother- and father-in-law, Corbly and Juanita Odell; his parents, Junie and Doris Manatt; and brothers-in-law Bill Olson and Jerry Hamberg.
