Duane R. Manross

Duane R. Manross, 95, of Rockland passed away at 4:15 P.M. Sunday at Oil City Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Franklin of February 24, 1923 he was a son of the late David L. Manross and Velma Reynolds Manross Olsen.

Duane worked many years at Franklin Steel as a machinist who helped maintain the various pieces of equipment throughout the plant. He also worked for a period of time as a Pennsylvania State Constable.

Mr. Manross proudly served his country in the United State Army during WWII. He served in the 70th Tank Battalion and fought in the African Front, Liberation of Paris, Invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach and the Battle of the Bulge.

For many years, Duane loved vacationing at his cottage on an island in Lavigne, Ontario, Canada. He truly put his heart and soul into this cottage, and loved spending time there with his late wife and family and friends. Duane and his wife loved to fish and garden and maintain their "little slice of heaven" in Canada.

Duane was a longtime volunteer for the Boy Scouts in Rockland and also was a bus driver for the former Rockland School District.

On October 26, 1942 he married the former Mary K. "Katey" Dick and she preceded his in death on January 31, 2005.

Surviving is one son; Gerald Manross and his wife Linda of Rockland; two daughters, Kathy Matie and her husband Paul of Tidioute and Christy Switzer and her husband Richard Jr. of Rockland; a sister, Pearl M. Potter and her husband Forrest of Rockland; eleven grandchildren, Jeffrey Manross and his companion Patty Karns, Melissa Johnson and her husband Brian, James Matie and his wife Jessie, Rhonda Hickey and her husband Jason, Marci Miller and her husband Joseph, Jerry Lee Manross and his wife Liza, Richard Switzer III and his wife Lindsey, Chad Switzer and his companion Brandy Shetler, Christopher McNeish, Greg McNeish and his wife Casey, and Fred McNeish and his companion Tammy Montgomery.

Additional surviving are many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his son, David L. Manross; a brother, Larry Olsen and his step father who helped raise him, Larry Olsen.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 312 W. Park St. Franklin, where family and friends are welcome from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. Thursday and 10:00 - 11:00 A.M. Friday.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday in the funeral home chapel.

Full Military Honors will be rendered by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard at the funeral home following service.

Interment will follow at Old Sandy Cemetery.

Online condolences and flowers may be sent to the family by visiting www.HuffFuneral.com.