Manuel V. Simas Jr. (Manny), 85, passed peacefully on June 23, 2022, in Placerville, CA.
Manny was born on July 8, 1936, in Santa Maria, CA to Manuel V. Simas Sr. and Mary B. Simas. Before settling in Tracy, CA in 1941, Manny’s family moved from Santa Maria to Patterson, CA where his father had a dairy for a few years. In his early years in Tracy, he attended West Park Elementary School, was an active member of the Sea Scouts, and had a newspaper route on his bike, delivering the Tracy Press. Later he attended Tracy High where he played football. He enjoyed spending his summers with his cousins in the Sea Canyon area near Pismo Beach. He was also an avid water skier and competed in slalom events in the rivers around Tracy.
After High School, he joined the Army National Guard in 1955, and was shipped off to Aberdeen, Maryland for training. When he returned to California later that year, he reported for duty as the first member or the 118th Ordnance Company in Stockton, CA. Manny served for 38 years, ending his military career as a US Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) in 1993 at Camp Roberts, CA, where he led an effort for equipment redeployment at the end of Operation Desert Storm.
In 1960, he married Mary Ann Terra in Tracy, CA. They had three children, Michael Anthony, Matthew Joseph, and Michelle Marie and raised their family in Manteca, CA after moving from Tracy in 1967. They had a small farm and raised lots of animals over the years, including cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, guinea hens, and even a peacock. The whole family was very involved in 4-H, showing cattle, pigs and sheep at the county fair, state fair and the Cow Palace Jr. Grand National. The family’s primary activity for summer vacations throughout their lives was participating in these livestock events, 4-H camp, and trips to Pismo Beach.
In 1986, Manny married Inez Marie Reichert. They enjoyed 33 years of marriage in Modesto, CA until Inez passed in 2019. During their time together, they enjoyed traveling, bowling, and they loved their time with family and friends.
Everyone who spent time with Manny certainly knows how social he was. He created strong friendships that lasted his lifetime. He was passionate and committed to every activity he got involved in. He didn’t just watch his kids play little league; he coached their teams. He did not just help his kids with their 4-H projects; he became a 4-H leader, organized 4-H camp every summer as the camp adult leader, and was the barn chairman at the San Joaquin County Fair. And when it came to bowling, he excelled, bowling in multiple leagues, always traveling to bowl in tournaments, and still bowled several perfect 300 games in his 80’s.
Manny was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his sisters, Zelma Bullard of Stockton, CA, Carol (Glen) Scholl of Springville, UT, his children, Michael (Michelle) Simas of Scottsdale, AZ, Matthew (Shelley) Simas of El Dorado Hills, CA, Michelle (Matthaus) Dengler of El Dorado Hills, CA; his step children, Danny (Janet) Holmes of Woodbridge, CA, Debbie Holmes-Davis of Waterford, CA; his 11 grandchildren, Lauren Simas, Taylor Simas, Austin Simas, Blake Simas, Luke Dengler, Jack Dengler, Claire Dengler, Amy (Eddie) Shields, Lisa (Kevin) Goetz, Kari Scott, Jake Davis; and 11 great grandchildren.
Manny’s family and lifelong friends will miss him dearly.
Fry Memorial Chapel, 550 South Central Avenue, Tracy is honored to serve the Simas Family. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 11, 2022 at Tracy Public Cemetery, 501 East Schulte Road, Tracy; Military Honors by V.F.W. Post#1537. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be sent in Manny’s name to Sergeants Major Association of California 6821 Santa Lucia Road, Atascadero, CA 93422.
A tribute page and online guestbook is available at www.frymemorialchapel.com.
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