Ellen Marie Vasaas Hansen Mann, 92, of Decatur, died Nov. 29, 2016, at her villa in the Woodcrest Retirement Community, her home since May of 2005. She was born on Aug. 1, 1924, in Asker, Norway to Hans Hansen and Laura Vasaas Hansen. She, her parents, and her older brother, Gunnar, came to the United States in 1928. Her mother died in 1938 and her father died in 1972. She grew up in Chicago and on a small farm near Kentland, Ind. At Kentland High School, she skipped two grades due to academic excellence and graduated at 16 as valedictorian, then was promoted once more while graduating with honors at age 19 from Indiana State Teachers' College in Terre Haute (now Indiana State University) with a degree in English, after receiving a full academic scholarship. She was a high school English teacher for one year at 19, instructing seniors who were just one year younger, at the former Deedsville High School in Indiana, then she began working as the executive secretary to the founder of the Funk Seed Co. in Indiana. During her high school years, she was such a good typist (120 words a minute) and note taker that she was called upon to transcribe cases heard in the county court when the court's clerk was indisposed. Later, Ellen was the secretary for Helene Lee, who led the Massachusetts Professional Nurses' Association, located in Boston. On June 2, 1946, she married William Wade Mann in the home of a former Indiana Governor, Warren McCray, who lived in Kentland. Wade died at Woodcrest on April 2, 2010. It was while he was a student at Harvard University, from which he was a magna cum laude graduate after having been a high school valedictorian in Terre Haute, that Ellen held the MPNA position. The Manns had two sons, Eric, who lives in Decatur, and Mark, who lives in Butler, Pa. Other survivors are three grandchildren, Joe Mann of Scottsburg, Colin Mann (Dr. Allison) of Denver, Colo.; and Laura Menchyk (Dr. Nick) of Patchogue, N.Y.; and two great-grandchildren, Madelaine "Maddie" Mann of Scottsburg, now a freshman at Ball State University in Muncie, and Declan Mann of Denver. Her brothers are deceased: Gunnar died in 2005 and Ole Richard Hansen in 2010. During her marriage, she and her husband were partners in operating three newspapers in Indiana: The Scott County Journal and The Chronicle, both in Scottsburg, and The Plainfield Messenger, just west of Indianapolis. The Manns, who bought the Scottsburg papers in 1958 and the Plainfield paper in the 1960s, had the first offset printing press in Indiana in 1960, farsightedly foreseeing the change from the old-fashioned letterpress process. They were so successful in their publishing ventures that they were able to retire in 1969 when Wade was 46 and Ellen was 45. The couple stayed very active in the next 40 years by traveling around the United States, visiting Norway in 1972, owning and sailing two sailboats (a 40-footer named Alert and a 30-footer named Seafree), taking college courses, attending classical musical concerts in numerous cities across the U.S.A., and participating in small-town playhouse productions in Virginia. They moved from Indiana to Lancaster County, Va., in 1982. Ellen was also active in a health clinic in that county and joined The Audubon Society chapter there and the couple belonged to a local yacht club. She further helped craft editorial columns that her husband wrote for The Indianapolis News in the 1970s. Both were very involved in civic activities wherever they were. At Woodcrest, Ellen founded the monthly World of Woodcrest newsletter and was its first editor. She was also a former member of the since-disbanded Philharmonic Society of Adams County and belonged to the Friends of the Library in Decatur. There will be no funeral, since Ellen, as did Wade, donated her body to Indiana University Medical School at Indianapolis for educational purposes, with cremation afterwards. Preferred memorials are to Woodcrest Retirement Community, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, Family LifeCare (the Berne-based hospice that provided great care, expertise, and materials during her last two years of life), any food banks, and any libraries. Ellen will always be greatly missed by those who knew of her intelligent and caring nature. Farewell to a Grand LadyWe say "Goodbye" to someone so close.A woman quite devoted and kind,A mother, grandmother, and great-grandmotherWho was the best that any could find.Ellen Marie Mann was her name,Of Norwegian stock strong and proud,A person who was very modest, yet,Whose life stood out from the crowd.She reached her 92nd birthday,Outliving husband Wade by six years,And always remembered their marriageWith longing and with her tears.They were wedded for 64 yearsAnd produced a small family:Two sons, three grandkids, two great-grand,All of whom now miss her greatly.Ellen was right at the centerOf whatever the family was doing,Keeping in touch with everyoneAbout activities which were brewing.She wrote letters and gave donationsTo people and groups far and wide.As a liberal and caring individual,She did all she could to provide.Ellen lived in the U.S. for 89 years,Thriving on education and the arts.She was a very highly concerned aboutBettering others' heads and hearts.As a mother, she was top-notch,Supportive and sporting through and through.As a grandma and great-grandma,She always offered her point of view.Ellen was Wade's perfect partnerIn decades of unified lifeAs they nicely improved the lotOf a progressive husband and wife.She and Wade were very activeIn so many varied ways:From journalism, travel, and public serviceTo flying the skies and sailing the bays.She taught her family the right wayTo live and to serve and to act.She was a model of decorum,Behavior, character, and tact.Her legacy spread from relatives To encompass Woodcrest here,As she founded its monthly newsletterTo tell what happens in that sphere.As we mourn over Ellen's passing,We recall with fondness most dearThat she was continually amassingGood will and respect year by year.The family and friends of EllenWill not know her like again.The chicks have flown from the coop,But won't forget their loving mother hen.We all say of Ellen, "How fine it wasTo have known the person you wereAnd to have experienced so muchThe special memories that we treasure."You lived a very full life,Ellen Marie Vasaas Hansen Mann,And sadly left behind youIs a grieving, but most grateful, clan. - By Eric H. Mann (son)