John Griffin Manske of The Villages, was called to eternal life on January 30, 2015, at the age of 69, with his family by his side. Born February 23, 1945, in Kalamazoo, MI, John was a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo before moving to The Villages with his wife Rosanne in 2010. An athlete in high school, he was on University High’s 1963 state championship tennis and golf teams. He attended the University of Michigan, and continued to be a passionate UofM fan until the end. (Go Blue!) After graduating from Valparaiso University Law School, he became a highly regarded local attorney in Kalamazoo. After working as a partner at the law firms of Howard & Howard and Miller, Johnson, Snell & Commiskey, he served as general counsel for Portage and Kalamazoo Public Schools until he retired. An avid golfer, John loved spending time on the golf course and with friends at the Kalamazoo Country Club, where he served on the Board and as President in 1984. He brought his sweet golf swing with him to The Villages, where he and Rosanne enjoyed countless rounds of golf. He thrived in The Villages. He was a regular volunteer at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, and he became very active at Hope Lutheran Church, serving on the church council and executive board for the past three years. John is fondly remembered as a role model, mentor, and rock for countless people who were fortunate to know him. He enjoyed socializing, engaging everyone nearby with his storytelling. He was always eager to offer his skills and expertise in any capacity to show kind help, counsel, and support. A wonderful husband and father, John is survived by his wife of almost 42 years, Rosanne; his three children Jill, Julie, and Jay (and wife Gina); and three grandchildren Nathan, Sophia, and Vivian. He is also a beloved brother to Liz Skinner and Carol Quandt, and uncle to several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 7, at 11am at Hope Lutheran in The Villages, FL, livestreamed at http://hopelutheraninthevillages.org/videos.html. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in John’s name to organizations that are meaningful to him through http://justgive.org/JohnManskeMemorial.