Hon. Daniel A. Manion

Dan Manion entered into the promise of eternal life late afternoon Saturday, August 31st, 2024 with his loving wife, Ann, by his side. Dan was born in South Bend, IN. He was the 3rd of Dean Clarence and Virginia “Gina” Manion’s 5 children. Dan spent most of his life on the banks of the St. Joseph River, fishing with his favorite dog “Misty” as a child and later building his home on the same property with the same river view. Dan had an affinity for horses and spent much of his childhood and young adulthood showing Arabian horses around the country with his mother, Gina. Dan attended Culver Military Academy and later the University of Notre Dame where he was a 3-time Bengal Bouts boxing champion, while also completing the ROTC program. After graduation, Dan became a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Vietnam. Upon returning, he worked multiple jobs, most notably for the Manion Forum, a nationally syndicated radio show hosted by his father Clarence Manion. Dan championed the conservative ideals of his father all of his life.  He was then appointed the Director of Industrial Development for the Indiana Department of Commerce and, while serving in this position, he attended law school at night, receiving his JD from Indiana University in Indianapolis. Dan worked for the Attorney General then served as a State Senator before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Later recovering, in what he thought was a “miraculous recovery,” Dan knew illness was God’s way of calling him away from politics.  Dan married his wife Ann (Murphy) in 1984 and went on to have 4 children; Mary, Katherine, Patrick, and Michael. He worked in private law practice until, in 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated him to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. After two tie votes in the Senate, Dan was confirmed for that position after a tie breaking vote by Vice President George HW Bush. Dan served on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals as an active and senior status judge until 2022. Dan especially had an affinity for his many law clerks, encouraging and mentoring each one to go out and do great things. He considered them his greatest professional legacy. Dan lived a life of discipline and dedication to his Catholic faith. “Faith and Family are what’s most important” was a motto he lived by. His morning Rosary walks and daily Mass were the foundation for his life. Dan was a dedicated husband and father. He supported his wife Ann in her mission with the Women’s Care Center, and was passionate about the work they continue to do for moms and babies in the South Bend community (and beyond). Dan loved his children deeply and was incredibly proud of each one of them. He loved driving them to school each morning and putting them to bed each night with his famous “Little Orlie” stories. From cheering them on and encouraging them in their sporting events, to instilling a deep love of Christ in each one of them, Dan proved that more important than any accolade was his vocation as Father and Husband.  Dan was present to all he encountered, always taking time to talk with those he met whether at St. Patrick’s County Park, where he took his daily speed walks, to the men and women who worked in the courthouse in both South Bend and in his chambers in Chicago, to his nieces and nephews and anyone else who crossed his path. Dan was a man of integrity and aimed to live a life for Our Lord. Dan spent his last six weeks at the Dujare House at Holy Cross Village and was administered Last Rites the morning of his death. His final words were the words of the Hail Mary. Dan died exactly as he lived, reliant on his Faith and surrounded by Family.

Dan is survived by his wife Ann (Murphy), his four children Mary Messner (Tom), Katherine Kelly (Joe), Patrick, Michael (Madelyn), and six grandchildren; Molly, Jack, Claire, Sebastian, Olivia, and Rose. He is also survived by his sisters Carolyn Butler and Diana Woodhead (David), as well as his brother Christopher Manion (Teri), his brother-in-laws Marty Murphy (Jane), John Murphy (Christine), Tom Murphy (Barb), Pat Murphy (Tonia), Mike Murphy (Cheryl), and Steve Murphy (Tina) as well as his brother-in-law Mike Hamann (Lori), his sister-in-law Kim Murphy, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Virgina Manion, his in-laws Edward and Mary Ann Murphy, his sister Marilyn Thies and her husband Tom, and his brother-in-law Peter Butler. Along with his brother-in-law Jim Murphy, his sister-in-law Mary Hamman and his infant nephew Patrick Murphy. He is also survived by his loving caretakers, Jeffrey Lewis, and Kelly DeVon, who were more supportive than words can express to Dan and the entire Manion family as Dan’s health continued to deteriorate over the last several months. The family will forever be grateful to them. 

Visitation will be held Sunday, September 8th, 2024 from 2-6 pm at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N.  Bendix Dr. with the Rosary being prayed at 5:45 pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, September 9th, 2024 at 10:30 am at Christ the King Catholic Church, South Bend.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN, where Military Honors will take place.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Women’s Care Center, 360 N Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617.

To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.