Manuel Garza Obituary

Manuel M. Garza age 82, passed away early Sunday Morning, September 15, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas after a sudden but difficult hospitalization. He was surrounded by his Wife, Sisters, Children, and Grandchildren.
He was born on February 11, 1942, to Manuel Trevino Garza and Paulita Mendoza Garza in Corpus Christi, Texas where he was raised and lived his entire life. Manuel was born into a family which would include twelve children.
After graduating from Roy Miller High School, he entered the Army Reserves, eventually finding his passion in law enforcement. He joined the Corpus Christi Police Department in 1964, serving honorably for 42 years retiring with the rank of Captain. He was a known and respected by throughout the city as "Captain" or simply "M.M." even when out of uniform.
Manuel was a man of deep convictions, quiet strength, and integrity. Manuel lived a long full life with the blessings of family and marriage twice over.
In his union with Santa Monica Garza (†) he raised three children; Sylvia Ann Joslin (Jerome Joslin), Manuel Garza III (Cynthia Garza), and Javier Daniel Garza and share five grandchildren. He was married 33 years before losing Santa to cancer in 1997.
He continued the good fight and was blessed to find love again with a second marriage to Juanita. They were married for 24 years, increasing his family to include her sons, Rico (Renee), Rod (Leoni), Ran (Roselyn), Renato (Victoria) and Marcello (Jasmine) as well as ten grandchildren.
In his lifetime he impacted many in his extended family, acting as mentor and big brother to the younger men. He provided support and help as they were growing up, moving away from home into university or the workplace. Manuel worked tirelessly to provide for his family sending all three children to Catholic Schools and then to institutions of higher learning despite not taking the opportunity for himself. Manuel was known for having a wide breadth of knowledge thanks to voracious reading and a deliberate manner of speech that came from his rich, but gentle baritone voice.
Manuel was an unwilling travel planner, but enjoyed the hours behind the wheel, days in the air, and weeks at sea. Eventually seeing the country and the world, he experienced life in a way that he deserved after having given so much to others.
Manuel is survived by his sisters, Paulita Rivas (Gabriel R. Rivas, II. †), Susana Gonzales, Herminia Pina (Felix Pina, †), Julia Ayala (Jesse Ayala, †), Alicia Perez, and Rosario Vela (Dagoberto Vela, †).
He was preceded in death by sister, Esther Vega (Antonio Vega, †), and brothers, Joe Garza, and Guadalupe Garza.
He will be missed by his extended family, a great many friends, and his Brothers & Sisters in Blue.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2024, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 for family members and from 5:00 to 9:00 pm for all guests at Seaside Funeral Home, 4357 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412. www.SeasideFuneral.com. A Rosary will follow at 7:00 pm at Seaside Funeral Home.
A Funeral Mass celebrating Manuel's life will be held on Monday, September 23, 2024, at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 3513 Cimarron Blvd., Corpus Christi, Texas 78414 at 11:30 am with entombment to follow at approximately 1:00 pm at Seaside Memorial Park.
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