Joseph Manges, 76

Born April 25, 1939, in the small coal mining town of Miller Run, Somerset County, Pa., to the parents of John W. Sr. and Elizabeth A. Manges. He was the fourth of five children, having two older sisters (Elizabeth A. and Margaret), and one older brother (John) and one younger sister (Dorothy). He attended Shade Township High School and graduated in 1957.

He joined the Navy Reserves while still in high school. The following year he went on active duty aboard the USS Abbott (DD-629). He spent 30 days off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon, as the gunfire support ship during the crisis. After two years he got out; and worked as an equipment operator in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In October 1961, he was ordered to active duty again. He was assigned to the USS Glennon (DD-840) in Newport, R.I. He then was ordered to the USS Albany (CG-10) in Boston, Mass. He committed to six years.

He served on several different classes of ships. He was promoted to Warrant Officer 1 in June 1967, on board the USS Cascade (AD-16) in Newport. There he met and married his wife, Sharon R. Trewhitt. In December he was ordered to Saigon, Vietnam, as the Security Officer and 1st Lieutenant. He was returned to the states where he served on shore duty in San Diego and Oakland, Calif. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in December 1979. He and his family then moved to Hayden, Idaho.

The following year he worked as a carpenter and for Kerr Oil as a handy man. During this time, he also volunteered at the Coeur d’Alene Rifle and Pistol Club coaching the junior shooters. Some of those shooters went on to college and national teams.

He is survived by his brother and younger sister; numerous nieces and nephews; his wife and two sons, Tim Manges who lives in Killeen, Texas, and Sean Manges who lives in Missoula, Mont.

Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene, has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Joseph’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.