Vern Arvid Maanum

Vern Arvid Maanum, son of Anton Maanum and Clara (Hansen) Maanum, was born on August 7, 1927 in Minneapolis, MN. At age 2, Vern's family moved from Minneapolis to Alberta, MN. During his childhood and youth, the family relocated several times. He attended school in North Dakota, Hancock, Sedan, Starbuck and several county schools in Pope County. The family farmed in Montana, North Dakota, Sedan, Hancock then Starbuck. Vern farmed with his father and eventually purchased his father's share of the farm northwest of Starbuck. Vern was united in marriage to Mavis Husmann of Villard on December 6, 1958 at the First Baptist Church in Glenwood. Their union was blessed with four children: Scott Randall, Barbara Le, Kristen Ann, and Bruce Anthony. The family made their home on the farm in White Bear Lake Township, Pope County until 1985 when they moved into Glenwood, where Vern resided until his death. After leaving the farm Vern had a number of occupations. He was a nursing assistant at Bethany Home in Alexandria and Lakeview Home in Glenwood. He operated an oil change and auto detail shop in Glenwood. He was the maintenance man at two apartments and was swimming pool maintenance man for Baycrest and several private homes. He occasionally worked for Pope County as a jail monitor. He was also a Minnewaska School District bus driver for many years. He worked in Minneapolis as a landscaper for five years and then started his own landscaping and lawn mowing business in Glenwood which kept him busy until one year ago. Vern's greatest joys in life were working and visiting. He truly enjoyed talking with people. He loved having conversations with long time friends and family but also loved to strike up a conversation with a total stranger and try to find a common interest with them. Vern was a great storyteller and was very talented at making up funny stories for his children, grandchildren and, more recently, his great-grandchildren. Vern was a longstanding member of the Lowry Community Covenant Church (formerly Ben Wade Covenant Church), in Lowry, MN and held several offices in that church through the years. Vern passed away at the age of 87 the evening of September 11, 2014 at Glenwood Village Care Center after a lengthy and complicated illness. His family is comforted to know that he has passed from this life to everlasting life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife Mavis of 56 years, their four children and spouses; Scott and Sondra Maanum of Rice Lake, WI; Barbara and Joe Graham, Glenwood; Kristen Maanum and husband Mike Nguyen of Portland, OR; Bruce Maanum and wife Florence Reed of Surry, ME; five grandchildren; Bill (Cheryl) Graham of Maple Grove, MN; Daniel (Rhianna) Graham, Glenwood; Clay Maanum of Surry, ME; Kamuro and Aurora Maayen of Portland, OR; five great-grandchildren; Kiley, Ashlyn, Madison, Leandra and Eli Graham; and by 21 brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Janet Mostad of Sauk Centre, MN; Harry (Evangelyn) Husmann of St. Joseph, MI; Andy (Donna) Husmann of North Shores, MI; Anna (Donald) Erickson of New Brighton, MN; Nellie (Archie) Anderson of Lowry, MN Louis Husmann of Clear Lake, MN Fred (Elaine) Husmann of Springfield, IL; Helen (Daniel) Lindsey of Crosby, ND; David (Marilyn) Husmann of Cannon Falls, MN; Grace (Dave) Kvam of Marinette, WI; Paul (Cora) Husmann of Cold Spring, MN; Ruth Husmann of Lowry, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, all six of his siblings and their spouses; Clifford Maanum, Margaret and Kermit Benson, Herman and Geraldine Maanum, Larry and Norma Maanum, Irene and Elmo Hegg, Audrey and Girard Brozek. Vern will be sadly missed by his family, relatives and many friends. Obituary from Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home.