Rev. Lincoln Stanley "Stan" Manierre

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" Yorke (Cowan) Manierre of Worcester, MA; one brother, Ernest Manierre of Robbinsville, NC; four children: Deborah Jean Geever and her husband Daniel of Hanson, MA, Ruth Elizabeth Weis and her husband Kenton of Elmore, OH, Paul Stanley Manierre and his wife Amy of Avon Park, FL, and Rebecca Lynne Otterbein and her husband Jeffrey of Manchester, CT; nine grandchildren: Colby Geever and his wife Lona, Raymond, Brian and Matthew Geever, Azure (Weis) Reese and her husband Michael, Brooke Weis, Jonathan Manierre and his wife Anja, and Stacy and Michael Otterbein; four great grandchildren: Addison and Aidyn Reese and Ryan and Colby Jr. Geever; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his grandson, David Manierre, whom he will join in Heaven.

Stan was born on September 6, 1920 in Hartford, CT, son of Ernest and Helen (Chapman) Manierre. He attended Hartford High School and graduated from Western State College in Gunnison, CO in 1942. During World War II he served with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Corps. in the Southern Pacific Theatre. In 1944, his B-24 bomber was shot down by Japanese planes near Saipan where Stan was captured by the Japanese and held in Japan as a prisoner of war for 15 months.

After the war, Stan was employed as an industrial salesman. On weekends he led youth activities at the Central Baptist Church of Hartford. It was during this time he was called to serve the Lord in ministry. In 1948, he entered Andover-Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA, graduating in 1951. In 1949, he married the love of his life, Evie, whom he had met at the First Baptist Church of Cambridge, MA.

Stan was ordained an American Baptist minister in 1951 at First Baptist Church of Hanson, MA, where he served as pastor for three years. In 1953, he and Evie were commissioned to serve as American Baptist missionaries in Japan. In 1954, Stan and Evie and their family left for Japan. It was the beginning of 20 years of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in Japan.

In 1974, Stan and Evie returned to the U.S. where Stan became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Weston, MA. In 1981, he became an area minister for the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts until he retired in 1989. In 1991, Stan and Evie moved to Briarwood in Worcester, where he was actively involved in the community.

Stan dedicated his life to help build bridges of understanding and peace. He loved life and was a devoted husband and father who will be dearly missed by Evie and their family. His passions also included reading, jazz music, playing the drums and attending music concerts. He particularly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed sports and was an avid fan of the New York Yankees.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 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. Caswell-King Funeral Home, 474 Grove St. is directing arrangements.