Reverend Lincoln Stanley "Stan" Manierre

MANIERRE, Reverend Lincoln Stanley "Stan" Reverend Lincoln Stanley "Stan" Manierre, 88, of Worcester, MA, died peacefully with his family at his side on Monday (November 10, 2008), at Knollwood Nursing Center, after a valiant battle with Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Evelyn "Evie" (Cowan) Manierre, his soul mate in all things but one. He was a lifelong Yankees fan; she a lifelong Red Sox fan. Their love was contagious; they did everything together, his ministry becoming hers. Stan also leaves one brother, Ernest Manierre of Robbinsville, NC; four children: Debbie Geever and her husband Dan of Hanson, MA, Ruth Weis and her husband Kent of Elmore, OH, Paul Manierre and his wife Amy of Avon Park, FL, and Becky Otterbein and her husband Jeff of Manchester; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his grandson, David Manierre, whom he will join in Heaven. Stan was born on Sept. 6, 1920 in Hartford, son of Ernest and Helen (Chapman) Manierre and attended Central Baptist Church. He graduated from Hartford High School and Western State College in Gunnison, CO. During World War II, he served with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1944, his B-24 bomber was shot down by Japanese planes near Saipan and he was held as a prisoner of war for 15 months. Stan dedicated his life to help build bridges of understanding and peace. He loved life and was a devoted husband and father. His passions also included reading, jazz music and playing the drums. A parishioner in Weston once wrote a letter, in part summing up what all who knew him came to realize: "I could say a lot of nice things about your sermons, but mostly I appreciate the fact that you don't preach down to us from some lofty position, but are truly on a level with us – a part of the whole congregation. Your love and compassion and faith have helped so many of our church members over the past five years...this part of the ministry has always been particularly vital, I feel, and no minister I've ever met has been able to help people as naturally as you. Thank you, too, for that fantastic sense of humor which, together with your deep faith, will sustain you come what may." A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 29 at the First Baptist Church of Worcester, 111 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA 01609. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Briarwood Residents Assistance Fund, 65 Briarwood Circle, Worcester, MA 01606, or to the First Baptist Church of Worcester for its youth ministry. The family wishes to extend its appreciation to the staff at Knollwood and Briarwood for their exceptional care during Stan's illness.