DAWN LEA KAAS MANIS ~ Class of 1971
September 20, 1953 - May 5, 2007



Palmer, AK resident Dawn Kaas Manis, 53, died May 5, 2007, at home. A service will be at 11am Thursday at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 East Street. Cremation will be after the service.

She was born September 20, 1953, in Pasco, WA, the fourth child of George and Helen Kaas. Dawn attended school in Richland, WA, and graduated from Columbia High School in 1971.

In 1983, she and her family moved from Washington to Anchorage. She earned her paralegal degree from Charter College in 1999. One of her favorite hobbies was gardening, and she shared that love with her grandchildren. She also had an extensive collection of angels. Her family wrote, "No matter where we are or where we go, we'll always have an angel watching us. As mom always said, 'Love ya, bye.'"

Through her prior marriage to Rodney Manis, four children were born: daughters and sons-in-law, Nichole and Greg Walleen of Bend, OR, and Amy and Brian Vukasin of Anchorage; and sons, Christopher and Jason Manis of Anchorage.

She is also survived by her soulmate, Robert Lange of Palmer; four-legged companion, Lucy; sisters, Karen Kaas ('64) and Sharon Kaas Demiter ('70); brothers, William ('67) and Steve Kaas. Grandma Dawn also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Brandon, Samantha, Amanda, Shyla, Haiden, Cooper, and Marlee; and numerous nieces and nephews.

To continue her gardening legacy, in lieu of cut flowers, the family would welcome living or potted flowers and/or plants.

Published in the Anchorage Daily News on 5/9/2007.

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