Carl Manz

1938 - 2024

Dr. Carl Walton Manz, 85, died peacefully on January 18. Carl was born on February 15th, 1938, in Eau Claire, WI to Walton and Beatrice (Hartvigh) Manz and was raised in Eau Claire, WI. He graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1956, and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1959. He also earned his medical degree from UW-Madison in 1963, and completed a general surgery residency at the University of Minnesota in 1971. He served as a Captain in the US Army during the Vietnam conflict.

Carl was a gifted surgeon well known in the Eau Claire community for his excellent and compassionate care. He joined the Midelfort Clinic in Eau Claire in 1971 before merging with Mayo Clinic and continuing until 2008. He felt blessed to be able to operate with his father, and later with his son who joined Midelfort in 1991. He touched innumerable people through his practice in the Chippewa Valley.

Carl was a loving husband and dedicated father and grandfather. Carl and Diane were married for over 65 years. They attended and cheered for his children and grandchildren at numerous sporting events. He enjoyed golf, and for many years they went on an annual golf outing around the Midwest with dear friends. He enjoyed swimming and cycling. He and Diane cycled not only around the beautiful rolling hills of Wisconsin, but also places around the United States, France, and Austria. An escape for him was gardening, and he grew many of the fresh vegetables and flowers enjoyed by the family. He loved good cuisine and had a knack for finding extraordinary restaurants on his travels, long before Yelp and other social media sites existed. He was a master at grilling and passed on his knowledge of grilling to kids and grandchildren.

Carl was preceded in death by his son Robert Carl Manz, his son-in-law Kurt Friesth, and his brother John Manz. He is survived by his sister Martha McMahon and brother Frank (Joann) Manz; wife Diane (Johnson) Manz; his son James Manz (Sharon); his daughter Barbara Friesth; and his grandchildren Wesley, Trevor and Sarah Manz, and Emma and Kristen Friesth.

A memorial service for Carl will take place at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1314 E. Lexington Blvd., Eau Claire, WI 54701 with Pastor Patrick Patterson officiating. Memorial visitation will take place at the church on that day from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire or the Chippewa Valley YMCA.

Friends and family may offer condolences online at hulkefamilyfh.com.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.