John Carl Mann Jr. of Belt, Montana passed away from cancer Friday morning at Peace Hospice of Great Falls.

His funeral will be held 1 PM August 4th at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Helena. Memorial donations are suggested to the Peace Hospice of Great Falls.

Born June 2, 1944 in Great Falls. He grew up the second oldest of 8 children on a farming homestead just outside of Great Falls. Helping his father he took naturally to big trucks and farm equipment. He joined the Army as a teen and served in Vietnam from 1966 through 1967 during the big buildup period. “You name it, we hauled it!”, he said. He returned to Great Falls and married a nurse named Carolynne Yvonne “Happy” Gorseth in 1972. They raised 3 children; Sheree Nelson (husband Jamie) of Great Falls; Heather Mann of Littleton, Colorado; and Jeff Mann (wife Dawn) also of Great Falls. He was a Life Member of both VFW posts: 4198 in Belt, Montana and 8242 in Yuma, Arizona.

While raising his family John enjoyed off-road motorcycling and camping. Often taking the family to camp in the Hughesville area. He made his living working and driving for farms large and small, mostly in Montana. After retiring from driving anhydrous fertilizer trucks he purchased an RV. Wintering in Arizona he enjoyed traveling and socializing. He found a special friend in Mary Smith and they traveled together with their dog Odie. John was a man who worked hard and enjoyed the simple things. He considered his friends family.

John was preceded in death by his wife Carolynne Yvonne “Happy” Mann, parents John Sr and Margaret Mann, and his brother Richard Mann.

John is survived by his brothers: Jerry Mann (wife Kathy) of Great Falls; Edward Mann (wife Sharon) of Spokane, Washington; Dale Mann (wife Sue) of Great Falls; and brother-in-law Mark Gorseth (wife Carol) of Missoula. He is also survived by his sisters: Beverly Bryan (husband Patrick) of Great Falls; Donna Mann of North Ogden, Utah; and Kathy “KT” Hall (husband Kyron) of Great Falls.