Herbert "Allan" Mann

Allan Mann passed peacefully into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after a 20 month journey with pancreatic cancer. Allan was born in Longmont, Colorado. Later his family moved to Hesperus, Colorado, and then to an agricultural experiment station in Springfield, Colorado. Young Allan was a busy kid in Cub Scouts, 4-H and church activities. He raised chickens in 4-H and had a large garden. He was proud his chickens fed the family for Sunday dinners. He also raised rabbits for the family table! At age 12, Allan worked at the grocery store, and in high school he worked at the local gas station after sports practice. Summers found him employed as a lifeguard at scout camp and finishing up his Eagle Scout project. Allan trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior when he was 13 at Beaver Creek church camp. In school, he participated in football, basketball, student government, was class president, and student body president. Allan earned his degree in agronomy at Colorado State University, where he conducted wheat research under Dr. Byrd Curtis, a renowned wheat breeder. This experience equipped him to work as wheat breeder for Cargill and North American Plant Breeders. Allan released two new varieties of hard red spring wheat. He received his Masters degree in plant breeding at North Dakota State University, where he and Dara met. They married in 1977. He completed his doctorate in forages in 1980. His was the first thesis ever to be completely written, edited and published by computer printout at NDSU. He was immediately hired by NDSU as Assistant Professor of Seed Stocks.

Allan had an entrepreneurial bone, and started a black bean retailing business, a subscription farm advisory newsletter and an early farm management computer program called Agri-Plus. During his days at NDSU, he got his private pilot license and served as president of the University Flying Club. He and Dara enjoyed many flights in the Dakotas and Colorado. Eventually Allan’s career path shifted to technology, where he held numerous consulting jobs at Redpath, 3M, Wells Fargo, American Linen, United Health and Hearth & Home Technologies. At Hearth & Home, he enjoyed working in Salesforce.com, and introduced the technology to daughter, Stephanie, who currently works in that field. He retired in 2019 at age 73.

Allan loved being a father to Stephanie, David and Thomas, and joined them in many adventures. He drove many miles delivering David to downhill and cross country ski races, and soccer tournaments. Both boys were in Boy scouts, and during Tom’s years, Allan was the scout master. He coached many local sports, including Tom’s basketball team. A favorite memory was when he found just the right first car for Stephanie, surprised her with it, and then spent the remainder of the day teaching her to drive a standard transmission!

Allan served in numerous ministries, including the Grace choir, supported Dara’s ministry, and travelled on several short-term missions trips to Peru and Kenya. He particularly enjoyed the safari! In 2000, they visited the Holy Land together.

In retirement, Allan re-engaged with one of his favorite organizations – the Experimental Aircraft Association. The Warbirds division was his favorite. He used Salesforce to update and build their online management tools. He loved seeing hundreds of Warbirds register for the big fly-in in Oshkosh on his program! Dara, David and the grandboys enjoyed going with Allan on annual trips to AirVenture in Oshkosh.

Allan is survived by his wife, Dara (almost 49 years!); children, Stephanie (Chad) King, David (Jaclyn) Mann, Thomas Mann; siblings, June Todd, John Mann, Jeanine (Michael) Hall, Carolyn (Greg) Stuart, Wayne (Brenda) Mann; grandchildren, Eldon Mann, Reuben King, Ulric Mann, Boaz King, Capelle Mann, Rogue Mann. Allan was preceded in death by his father, Herbert O. Mann; mother, Edwina Mann; brother, Warren Mann.

Celebration of Life will be held on Allan’s 80th birthday on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Grace Church Eden Prairie. Visitation at 1pm, service at 2:00pm. Allan’s birthday party will follow the service.

Memorials may be directed to Mission Aviation Fellowship https://maf.org/ Skip the donation button. Scroll down to “tribute gift.” Honoree: Allan Mann Funds will be allocated to “Nigeria Startup,” which is a new project.