Manuel "Mike" Michael Costa

Mike was born June 21, 1953, at Washington Hospital in San Jose, CA, and passed at home on April 14, 2024, surrounded by his wife, children and family in Tracy, CA.

He is survived by his wife Marie Costa, of Tracy, CA, son Manuel Michael Costa, Jr (Tricia), of Anderson, CA, daughter Bernardette Marie Howe (Dan), of Tracy, CA; grandsons Ethan Medeiros, of Hillsboro, KS, Ezra Costa, of Rohnert Park, CA and Asa Costa, of Anderson, CA. He also is survived by his mother, Cecila Costa, of Kooskia, ID, siblings Christine Costa, of Kamiah, ID, Kathy Allen (Gary), of Kooskia, ID, Steve Costa (Nancy), of Pilot Hill, CA, Lauralee Rivera (Nick), of Conway, AK, and Joel Costa (Nancy) of Kooskia, ID. He also leaves behind 36 nieces and nephews, 62 great nieces and nephews, and numerous other friends and family members.

He was predeceased by his father Manuel F. Costa, and brothers David Costa and Richard Costa.

Mike lived in the Mission San Jose area, where he attended Niles Elementary and Mission San Jose Elementary School. He was a member of Boy Scouts, and his early love of roller skating prompted him to start a skating club with his friends and family. He moved to Tracy in 1965, were he attended New Jerusalem Elementary, and played basketball on the school team. He was a member of the New Jerusalem 4-H Club, raising market hogs, and learning electricity and woodworking, which he would later go on to teach.

Mike attended Tracy High School, where he graduated in 1972. He played soccer, and trombone in the Jazz Band, and marched in the Tracy High “Pride of Tracy” marching band.
He became a truck driver at the young age of 17, hauling agricultural commodities. During this time, Mike and his father started their own trucking business “Big Horn Trucking.” He attended Delta College, and began dating the love of his life, Marie Faria. Mike and Marie were married at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church on November 22, 1975, and celebrated their 48th Anniversary last November.

Mike’s hobbies included hunting and fishing in his boat, with his dog Buster. He also loved cycling, and ran the Davis Double Century 200-mile run. He enjoyed four wheeling, racquetball, and going for long rides on his motorcycle, and was a San Francisco 49ers and Giants fan.

He loved the ocean, and often went snorkeling and diving for abalone. He even learned to surf in Hawaii, in his 60’s. He looked forward to his annual trek to Idaho, to see family, hunt and fish. Mike nurtured a lifelong love of growing and gardening, and became known for sharing his fruits and vegetables, sometimes to overabundance, with anyone he knew.

He was active in the IPFES Portuguese organization, serving as a director and organizer for the Holy Ghost Festa, and was a member of The Knights of Columbus Fraternal Organization.

In 2021, Mike retired from Boise Cascade Inc., after a 50-year long career in truck driving, where he earned the nicknames “Hard Hat Mike,” and “Million Dollar Driver.” But truly, his favorite job was being a husband, dad, and “Papa.”

Mike fostered a lifelong love of music, and learned to play both trombone and bass guitar. He sang in the church choir, played guitar on the worship team, and performed the occasional solo.

Mike was a strong man of faith, and had a heart for God and people. He became a licensed minister to marry his nephew and perform baptisms. He easily made friends, and could strike up a conversation with anyone at any time. In 2004 he took a mission trip to Albania with Campus Crusade for Christ, and was active in the “Least of These” ministry, where he became a friend and mentor to many in the unhoused community.

Fry Memorial Chapel, 550 South Central Avenue, Tracy is honored to serve the Costa Family. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Southwinds Church 13400 W. Middle Road, Tracy, CA 95304. He will be laid to rest privately at the Tracy Public Cemetery.

An online guestbook is available at www.frymemorialchapel.com for condolences and special messages to the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that a donation be made to the tree planting project underway at Southwinds Church. Please go to: www.southwinds.org for information and to donate.

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