On March 8, 2010 our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Bennie Lee Manzanares, passed from the sorrows of this life surrounded by his family, and with the anointing of his friend and priest, Father Ed Metzger and entered the joys of eternal life.
Bennie was born May 2, 1940 in Ignacio, Colo. to Manuel Manzanares and Theadora Gallegos-Manzanares.
Bennie left behind a legacy of love, especially for all of his grand babies. Bennie’s love not only encompassed his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but many other lost souls that he “adopted” into his large family. Everyone knew that they were Bennie’s favorite. He also enjoyed fishing, the outdoors, reading and learning, watching Raiders football, racing cars and shining his big old Dodge truck. Bennie had a great love for God, the Bible and people of all faiths.
Preceded in death by his son, Bennie Jr., daughter, Bonnie, mother, Theadora, daughter-in-law, Charla Gray, granddaughter, Kayla, sister Jeanie Vasquez and father, Manuel.
He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Janet; children Bernadine (Jeff) Nieser, Eric (Sheila) Manzanares, Rick (Hope) Manzanares, Kenneth (Aileen) Manzanares, Terry Manzanares, Lance (Latisha) Manzanares, Diann (James) Grasso, Deon (Marlo) Manzanares, Nick (Jody) Manzanares and Alaina (Rusty) Maue; 28 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren (with two more on the way).
Services are entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home. Vigil service was Thursday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was Friday, March 12, 10 a.m. at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal service at Cliffview Cemetery. Potluck luncheon followed burial at the Notre Dame New Hope Center.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Friends and family are welcome to share memories of Bennie at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net
Bennie Manzanares
"Bennie Manzanares"