Son of Harold McManus & Viva Bunker.
Married Joyce Elaine Walworth on August 9, 1947.
Traverse City (MI) Record-Eagle
MAPLETON - Harold "Jolly" McManus Jr., who spent more than 20 years in Peninsula Township government as a supervisor and later as a trustee, died of heart failure late Sunday night. He was 77.
McManus, halfway through his third term as a trustee on the township board, was remembered by colleagues as a popular and respected local official who could break up the tension of the most-heated local government debates with a light-hearted comment or folksy anecdote.
"No matter how hot those meetings got, Jolly would have a little analogy that would crack everybody up," said township Supervisor Rob Manigold. "He really loved his family, and a lot of times he would say that (local politics) was like raising seven kids."
McManus is survived by his seven adult children and his wife, Joyce.
McManus served three terms as township supervisor between 1976-88, a period where the once-largely rural peninsula began to struggle with residential development pressures and a changing landscape. After four years off the board, he was elected to a trustee seat in 1992, and handily re-elected again in 1996 and two years ago.
He served on the township Planning Commission and the TC-TALUS regional transportation board. He was also active with the local Farm Bureau, the American Legion and the Old Mission Conservancy.
"He was real popular with the people," Manigold said. "Jolly is well-respected all the way through county and township governments."
He was among the first members of the McManus family to hold public office more than 25 years ago, a family name that is now well-known on the state, county and local government scene. His first cousin, George McManus, is a state senator while cousin Mike McManus is running for the state House. Mike's daughter, Michelle, is a candidate for state Senate.
As a native of the township, Harold McManus knew the Old Mission community like few others, Manigold said.
"He had history on the people and property on the peninsula that we'll never be able to replace," Manigold said. "I know I'm going to miss him, and a lot of other people will too."
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mapleton. The township offices will be closed on Thursday so employees may attend, officials said.
Married Joyce Elaine Walworth on August 9, 1947.
Traverse City (MI) Record-Eagle
MAPLETON - Harold "Jolly" McManus Jr., who spent more than 20 years in Peninsula Township government as a supervisor and later as a trustee, died of heart failure late Sunday night. He was 77.
McManus, halfway through his third term as a trustee on the township board, was remembered by colleagues as a popular and respected local official who could break up the tension of the most-heated local government debates with a light-hearted comment or folksy anecdote.
"No matter how hot those meetings got, Jolly would have a little analogy that would crack everybody up," said township Supervisor Rob Manigold. "He really loved his family, and a lot of times he would say that (local politics) was like raising seven kids."
McManus is survived by his seven adult children and his wife, Joyce.
McManus served three terms as township supervisor between 1976-88, a period where the once-largely rural peninsula began to struggle with residential development pressures and a changing landscape. After four years off the board, he was elected to a trustee seat in 1992, and handily re-elected again in 1996 and two years ago.
He served on the township Planning Commission and the TC-TALUS regional transportation board. He was also active with the local Farm Bureau, the American Legion and the Old Mission Conservancy.
"He was real popular with the people," Manigold said. "Jolly is well-respected all the way through county and township governments."
He was among the first members of the McManus family to hold public office more than 25 years ago, a family name that is now well-known on the state, county and local government scene. His first cousin, George McManus, is a state senator while cousin Mike McManus is running for the state House. Mike's daughter, Michelle, is a candidate for state Senate.
As a native of the township, Harold McManus knew the Old Mission community like few others, Manigold said.
"He had history on the people and property on the peninsula that we'll never be able to replace," Manigold said. "I know I'm going to miss him, and a lot of other people will too."
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mapleton. The township offices will be closed on Thursday so employees may attend, officials said.
Son of Harold McManus & Viva Bunker.
Married Joyce Elaine Walworth on August 9, 1947.
Traverse City (MI) Record-Eagle
MAPLETON - Harold "Jolly" McManus Jr., who spent more than 20 years in Peninsula Township government as a supervisor and later as a trustee, died of heart failure late Sunday night. He was 77.
McManus, halfway through his third term as a trustee on the township board, was remembered by colleagues as a popular and respected local official who could break up the tension of the most-heated local government debates with a light-hearted comment or folksy anecdote.
"No matter how hot those meetings got, Jolly would have a little analogy that would crack everybody up," said township Supervisor Rob Manigold. "He really loved his family, and a lot of times he would say that (local politics) was like raising seven kids."
McManus is survived by his seven adult children and his wife, Joyce.
McManus served three terms as township supervisor between 1976-88, a period where the once-largely rural peninsula began to struggle with residential development pressures and a changing landscape. After four years off the board, he was elected to a trustee seat in 1992, and handily re-elected again in 1996 and two years ago.
He served on the township Planning Commission and the TC-TALUS regional transportation board. He was also active with the local Farm Bureau, the American Legion and the Old Mission Conservancy.
"He was real popular with the people," Manigold said. "Jolly is well-respected all the way through county and township governments."
He was among the first members of the McManus family to hold public office more than 25 years ago, a family name that is now well-known on the state, county and local government scene. His first cousin, George McManus, is a state senator while cousin Mike McManus is running for the state House. Mike's daughter, Michelle, is a candidate for state Senate.
As a native of the township, Harold McManus knew the Old Mission community like few others, Manigold said.
"He had history on the people and property on the peninsula that we'll never be able to replace," Manigold said. "I know I'm going to miss him, and a lot of other people will too."
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mapleton. The township offices will be closed on Thursday so employees may attend, officials said.
Married Joyce Elaine Walworth on August 9, 1947.
Traverse City (MI) Record-Eagle
MAPLETON - Harold "Jolly" McManus Jr., who spent more than 20 years in Peninsula Township government as a supervisor and later as a trustee, died of heart failure late Sunday night. He was 77.
McManus, halfway through his third term as a trustee on the township board, was remembered by colleagues as a popular and respected local official who could break up the tension of the most-heated local government debates with a light-hearted comment or folksy anecdote.
"No matter how hot those meetings got, Jolly would have a little analogy that would crack everybody up," said township Supervisor Rob Manigold. "He really loved his family, and a lot of times he would say that (local politics) was like raising seven kids."
McManus is survived by his seven adult children and his wife, Joyce.
McManus served three terms as township supervisor between 1976-88, a period where the once-largely rural peninsula began to struggle with residential development pressures and a changing landscape. After four years off the board, he was elected to a trustee seat in 1992, and handily re-elected again in 1996 and two years ago.
He served on the township Planning Commission and the TC-TALUS regional transportation board. He was also active with the local Farm Bureau, the American Legion and the Old Mission Conservancy.
"He was real popular with the people," Manigold said. "Jolly is well-respected all the way through county and township governments."
He was among the first members of the McManus family to hold public office more than 25 years ago, a family name that is now well-known on the state, county and local government scene. His first cousin, George McManus, is a state senator while cousin Mike McManus is running for the state House. Mike's daughter, Michelle, is a candidate for state Senate.
As a native of the township, Harold McManus knew the Old Mission community like few others, Manigold said.
"He had history on the people and property on the peninsula that we'll never be able to replace," Manigold said. "I know I'm going to miss him, and a lot of other people will too."
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mapleton. The township offices will be closed on Thursday so employees may attend, officials said.
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