Lowell "Pat" McManus
July 31, 1935 ~ March 6, 2020
Lowell “Pat” McManus, age 84, West Fargo, died March 6, 2020 at Sanford Medical Center.
Lowell “Pat” McManus was born to E.P. & Ernestine (Schober) McManus on July 31, 1935 in Casselton, N.D. He attended Casselton schools, graduating in 1953. He was baptized, confirmed and attended St. Leo’s church. He attended ND Agricultural College while becoming a member of the ND Air National Guard. He spent 10 years with the guard, 5 of them full time.
In 1961, he moved to Fergus Falls and assisted his brother at Fergus Oil, selling Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs. It was in Fergus Falls, in 1964, on that site, that he saw a young gal, Sonia Grossman, retrieving her father’s car. He found out her name and proceeded to convince her he needed a date to celebrate his birthday (it actually was). That led to courtship and marriage. They moved to the Fargo-Moorhead area in 1966 when Pat began his career with Equitable Life. His ability to understand peoples’ needs in his charismatic way earned him many awards in the industry - on local, state and national levels. He earned the Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations, and for years was a proud member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He later ventured into health, pension, business life insurance and estate planning.
Pat was passionate about serving God, family and community. He served on various church committees and councils in Fargo and in Tucson, AZ. For the Fargo diocese, he served on the boards of Catholic Charities, Catholic Family Services, Shanley GROW, Catholic Schools Network Foundation, Fargo Catholic School Board, Shanley Auction, Fargo lay pension board, and he chaired the long range planning committee.
His Fargo-Moorhead area involvements included service through Rotary, Jaycees, United Way of Cass Clay, Hospice of the Red River Valley, and the board of directors for St. John’s and St. Ansgar Hospitals. He also served on condo association boards in Fargo and in Saddlebrooke, AZ.
Pat loved his large family and he shared countless enjoyable times with them throughout his life. He began life surrounded by 10 siblings, and in time many nieces and nephews. He took on a fatherly role when his siblings passed and he became their family connection.
Retirement gave Pat and Sonia more time for travel, spending 20 winters in the south, coffee with friends, reading, movies and making MORE friends. He LOVED to talk! He loved life. He is so missed already.
Preceding him in death were his parents, siblings Agnes, Angie, Ann, Harold, Gertrude, Phil, Lyle, Phyllis, Jim and Tom, as well as a nephew and nieces, Mary Ann, Judy, Michael and Monica.
Surviving Pat is his wife Sonia, along with their children Maureen (Craig), Greg (Reann), Ryan (Heather) and Patrick. He couldn’t have loved them more. They in turn blessed him with grandchildren he adored: Connor, Quinn, Andrew, Alexander, Moira, Oliver, Flynn and Aurelie. Eighteen nieces and nephews also mourn his death.
Pat began his life with Christ on Friday, March 6th. Services for him begin with visitation on Wednesday, March 11th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. A Celebratory Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12th at Holy Cross Church with visitation starting at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to consider two of Pat’s favorite charities: St. John Paul II Catholic Schools Network (education) and the Presentation Sisters’ Partners in Housing (assisting homeless).
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Dear McManus Family,
You all are in my thoughts and prayers in Pat’s death. He and all of you were very good friends when I was in Fargo at Nativity. I enjoyed our friendship very much and also the time we shared in prayer, worship and school there. Pat was a great help on the Finance Council I remember. You all were friends of many of the priests who served in the parish. I remember the kids in school at Nativity and at Shanley and later college, your home on River Drive was a respite for many of us and a gathering place on special occasions too. May Pat have eternal peace and joy with our loving God. May his legacy of love and faith live on in all of you. “Well done good and faithful servant.” Fr. Tim Bushy
Sonia, Maureen, Greg, Ryan, Patrick and families, we were so very sorry to learn of Pat’s passing. Our hope is that you will find comfort in your family, friends and the memories that you share. Thinking of you at this difficult time.
I enjoyed getting to know Pat when we were on the Pickerel Lake Association Board together. Deepest sympathies to all of Pat’s family.
Ryan,
I’m so sorry for your loss of your dad.
Kara Sackett (Schwinghammer)
Sonia So sorry to hear of Pats death he was a classmate of mine. My prayers and sympathies to all of your family. Cherish your memories.
Our sympathies to your family always enjoyed my breakfast and coffee meetings with Pat and enjoyed working with him at home builders
Sonia and family, We are so saddened to hear of Pat’s passing. We will miss the times we spent with you. You are in our prayers.
Sonia, Maureen,Greg,Ryan and Patrick. I am so sorry for your loss. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs Nancy
Pat was a special man. I knew the family in the 60’s. My dad worked for his brother Lyle. I bought my first life insurance policy in 1964 from his brother Tom. I became reacquainted with Pat after moving from the Cities to FM in 1978, through Rotary and then serving on the Health Plan Board of the FM Home Builders Association, where Pat was a trusted advisor. I’ll miss him and consider myself fortunate to have shared part of our journey together.
Pat
My nextdoor neighbor….. sorry to loose you ….. and hope all the family my best..ALWAYS
Time passes so fast …. WILL miss your great smile
Always makes me smile
Bye Pat
Dear Sonia, Maureen, Greg, Ryan and PJ, and families,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all! We are currently n Texas. I have many fond memories of our get togethers! Love and hugs to you all! God Bless you all!
I
We were deeply saddened to learn of Pat’s passing. Our sincere condolences to Sonia and family. Clarence Samuel and Donna Nalewaja
Dear McManus family, A good and faithful servant has left all of us, but is now home. I always appreciated my conversations with Pat because he was a faith-filled man who said it like it was. His service to community, family, and the church speak volumes of the life he led. My condolences to all of you and may your memories of Pat be cherished and many.
So sorry for you loss and you have our deepest sympathy.
Carroll Family (Brian , Joanna, A.J, Quinn)
Sending my love and prayers, Sonia. I will miss Pat’s friendly smile and his good conversations. I remember he came to visit me after I moved to the apartment and we did a lot of reminiscing.
My sympathy to you and your family. I am still in Arizona at this time.
Marjean
Dear Maureen and family , my deepest sympathies for the loss of your father and grandpa. Sincerely, Jane DuBord -Hill
Sonia and family,
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Pat. We are so thankful for the times we shared at the lake with the two of you and that we saw him again at the Johnsons celebration. He was truly a very special friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with you now and the days and months ahead.
Dan and Carolyn Busta
Sonia,
I am so sorry for your loss. You were such a great comfort to me when I lost my husband 23 years ago. I can only pray that you will find comfort much like you provided to me. God Bless Pat’s memory.
Sonia, So sorry to hear of the passing of Pat. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Marian and George Greenwood
As you grieve this loss of Pat in your midst, may God bless your family as you continue. Losing a spouse is hard, Heather’s mother Ginny and I had over 47 years together. Bless you all.
Dear Sonia, Sorry to hear this news today our thoughts and prayers are with you. Going to really miss the time that Pat and I spent talking about life in a car Dealership.
Thoughts and prayers for your family.
Sonia and family. My sympathy to you all on the death of Pat. Pat was a tremendous person with an awesome presence no matter where or who he was with and for that we are grateful. May you feel the love that surrounds you, now and in the days ahead.
Liz Sether
Sonia, Our love and sympathy to you and your family. Pat was a true “people person” and we enjoyed our chances to visit with him.
Sonia….so sorry to hear about Pat. I hope you will be ok.
A great neighbor and friend who introduced me to ST. Pat’s Da
Dear McManus Family,
I am so very sorry to hear about your loss. My family and I will keep you, and yours, in our thoughts and prayers. While the stories, photos, and memories shared cannot fill the void, I do hope they can ease the sorrow during this difficult time. Pat was a thoughtful and understanding man, and he was a good friend to my family. He will be missed by many.
*My favorite memory: Pat & Sonia gave me flowers on my graduation day from Shanley HS – it was completely unexpected and I don’t know if they knew how much it meant to me and made my day*
RIP Pat you will be remembered here in SaddleBrooke, AZ. .. One of the good ones.