METHUEN - Walter "Skip" Mannke, 77, of Methuen, MA passed away Friday, November 4, 2022 at Nevins Nursing Home from prostate cancer.

Born May 20, 1945 in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Albert Mannke and Mary Mannke and an older brother to Glenn Mannke and Donna Flynn (Mannke). He graduated from Mission High School in 1963. While there, he spent his sophomore year of high school in Redemptorist Seminary. After high school he joined the Marine Corps Reserve where he was a Sergeant from 1965-1971. He then went on to work as a Chemical Processor at Polaroid Corporation and later as a HVAC technician. He operated his own business as a plumber/HVAC specialist for many years.

He is survived by his daughters Skye Mannke and fiancé Curtis Matthews of Beverly, MA and Melissa Mannke and husband Christopher Ward of Portland OR in addition to 4 grandchildren Joshua, Jack, Sienna, and Emmett, his brother Glenn Mannke and wife Margaret Mannke, sister Donna Flynn (Mannke) and husband Paul Flynn, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant daughter Jennifer Mannke.

Skip worked hard but still found time for his passion- golf! He played 18 holes of golf daily until June 2022 when he was admitted to hospice services for metastatic prostate cancer. Being in hospice gave him a completely different outlook on life, love, and family. While there, he wrote an essay called "Lessons I've Learned from Hospice" that was published August 2022 which conveyed his perspective. In his final months, he expressed so much love and gratitude; a beautiful gift to everyone that knew and loved him.

"I'd have to make up my own language to have the words to say how lucky I am. I got to know where I stand in life, and it's better than I ever knew" Skip Mannke.

Services are private. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit w ww.driscollcares.com