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John’s playful spirit never wavered.

John Michael Manzer, 75, of Kelso, Washington, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

Born June 26, 1951, in Everett, Washington, John was the youngest of three children born to Hellen Ramona and John Arthur Manzer. He lived in Snohomish until he graduated in 1969. After working in Seattle, he moved to Eugene, Oregon, where he worked for Taco Time International. Eventually, he started his own company and devoted the remainder of his career to running his business.

John loved his work. He used to joke that his goal was to die in his chair at his desk. He almost succeeded, but instead, he went to the hospital in March 2026, where he underwent numerous procedures before eventually coming home to rest.

When he was not working, John loved spending time with his family. He loved riding dirt bikes with his son, Curran. He went from riding a Honda 70 to a Gold Wing. He even convinced his wife, Carol, to buy a Yamaha 1100, and you could often find them in their Harley-Davidson leathers, going on adventures.

John loved teasing his five grandchildren and playing with his grand dogs. He enjoyed teaching the kids how to bake delicious desserts, playing cribbage or checkers, and being “in the know” about the latest gadgets. He even purposely bought a lawnmower that could haul a wagon just to take the young kids on adventures around the yard and through the woods. As his grandkids grew and began to tower over their parents, a beloved running joke developed as each one eventually outgrew the other.

John’s playful spirit never wavered. Even after six months of being in and out of the hospital and a skilled nursing facility, and despite eventually becoming a double amputee, John kept his sense of humor intact. Through it all, he eagerly looked forward to walking on his “stubbies” so he could officially claim the title of both the shortest and oldest in the family.

His memory will be cherished by his loving wife, Carol; his son, Curran (and his wife Michelle), Shelley Youngblood and Jason Haase (and his wife April); five adored grandchildren (Allison Youngblood, Piper Youngblood, Aksel Haase, Kate Youngblood and Rosalie Youngblood. He is also remembered with love by his sister, Donnela Benn (and husband Kent); his brother, Don Manzer; and numerous extended family members, including his nieces and nephews.