Elisabeth Manz

Elisabeth Katarina Manz, 85, reached the end of her adventurous journey in this world and was welcomed into the arms of Heaven on Saturday, April 20th, 2019.

Elisabeth was born to Ludwig and Anna Ketterl in the Bavarian town of Cham, Germany.  Along with her 12 brothers and sisters, she learned to love the outdoors, to work hard and to love music.  She and her family lived through World War II, the death of her mother when Elisabeth was only 5, and the blending of her new family when Ludwig remarried.  Elisabeth had a strong moral compass, developed at an early age. She passed to her children and her grandchildren that you “always do the right thing, not just the easy thing.” Her family has many memories and even funny stories of how she lived that out every day.

As a young woman, Elisabeth worked in her brother’s electronics shop. As part of the business community, she attended many fancy balls, meetings and even state dinners.  It was during that time that she had a relationship that broke her heart, but left her with a beloved daughter, Waltraud.

She moved to Paris to study, and there she met Bill Hildebrand, US Army.  They were married in Germany in 1958 where Bill was stationed.  In 1959, their first child was born.  The family moved to California, where Elisabeth taught herself to speak and read English.  Five more children followed in rapid succession.  Throughout her marriage, Elisabeth worked three jobs at a time to provide for her children, and despite very few hours of sleep she never missed the chance to attend their events, or to make each child feel special and loved.

The marriage finally ended in 1974, and in 1975 Elisabeth finally found a wonderful man, Richard Manz, who was so in love with her he was willing to help raise her 6 children – either that, or he was crazy, - the jury is still out on that.  Together they traveled and explored the Western U.S.  They loved small towns, ghost towns and the Grand Canyon.  They “retired” to Hesperia, CA where they raised exotic birds as Cherry Hill Bird Farm.  Throughout her life, Elisabeth loved to clean, and she loved to sing and dance – and yodel! She was a wonderful cook, and no one left her table hungry.  Elisabeth LOVED children, whether they were hers or the kids in the neighborhood or the “strays” that the children brought home.

Elisabeth began to develop symptoms of dementia when they moved to Grand Junction in 2005, and the disease continued to relentlessly rob her of her memories when they returned to California in 2007.  In 2017, they returned to Colorado to be closer to family.  They lived together at the Willows in Fruita before moving into their own home in Grand Junction.  To her last breath, Richard was a loving and devoted husband, and Mom remained energetic, healthy and happy, despite the loss of her memory.

Waiting for her at Heaven’s gates are her parents and many of her siblings, as well as her youngest son, Carl Ludwig. She is survived by Richard Manz, her husband of 43 years; her children, Waltraud of Cham, Germany; Bill Hildebrand(Norma); John Hildebrand (Lynnle); Susie Davidson (Rick); Robert Hildebrand (Eric) all of Southern California and her daughter Theresa (Karl) of Grand Junction, plus 15 loved grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, and many people whose lives she touched.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 26th at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Grand Junction.  Funeral services are being coordinated by Brown’s Cremation.