Manuel “Manny/Tito” Angelo Garcia, 52, of Kearney, Nebraska, formerly of Bayard, Nebraska, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, at CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Nebraska. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 28, 2024, at Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Bayard with Pastor Larry Russel officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Bayard Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made in care of the family and will be designated later. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting Manuel’s obituary page viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Manuel was born October 16, 1971, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Samuel M. Garcia Sr. and Mary (Flores) Garcia. He attended school at Bayard Elementary through Bayard Senior High, graduating with the class of 1990. He then advanced to the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Manny’s employment began as a dishwasher/busboy in a small café in his hometown of Bayard. He worked for Chimney Rock Villa as a CNA also in Bayard. He later found himself working alongside the Anderson brothers with their flooring business. Manny was hired at Midwec Charles Industries in Scottsbluff before moving to Kearney. He then started his career at Richard Young CHI as a CNA and most recently, CHI Health Good Samaritan as a maintenance man. He made friends at every workplace and enjoyed grilling for his coworkers.

He attended Kearney E-Free Church. His hobbies were camping out with friends, fishing, and casting a lot of fishing line throughout his lifetime, but his favorite of all was ice fishing. He would become excited for the frigid winter temperature to drop. A huge smile would appear on his face, and he would say, “Do you know what time it is? It’s ice fishing time.” He was a very talented photographer, his photos were amazing, many of which he shared on Facebook. He enjoyed music and singing along. Those who knew him know he enjoyed eating at new restaurants and food trucks, plus taking pictures of what he was eating and/or cooking.

Manuel was a kindhearted, fun-loving, and a happy-go-lucky type of a guy. He was known for his incredible smile and cheerfulness. Loving his family and friends was very important to him. He made many friends throughout his life. Helping others was what he liked to do and he always had a smile on his face, kind words, a hug, or even just a laugh to give encouragement. He always knew what to say. All of us will miss him more than he could ever imagine.

Survivors include his father, Samuel M. Garcia Sr. of Bayard; siblings, Carol Jean Leeds of Bayard, Samuel (Shelli) Garcia Jr. of Bayard, Angela Marie Garcia of Bayard, and Michael Anthony (Celeste) Garcia of Bayard; nieces and nephews, John Leeds, Amanda Leeds, Samuel Garcia III, Hilaria Esparza-Garcia, Emerald Garcia, and Paul Esparza-Garcia; great nieces and great nephews, Gabriel Leeds, Misty Leeds, Maggie Mae Sedlacek, and James Esparza-Garica; uncle, Robert (Connie) Flores of Casa Grande, AZ; along with other extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Manuel and Alejandra Garcia and Benito and Sipriana Flores; mother, Mary (Flores) Garcia; brother, Johnny Lee Mendoza; aunt, Antonia Acevedo; and uncles, Joe and Benito III Flores.