MARTINEZ, Manuel

Manuel Martinez, 75, of Grand Island, died Thursday, April 28, 2005 at the Skilled Care Unit of the St. Francis Medical Center. Funeral services will be on Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Rev. Phil Flott and the Rev. Tom Ryan will officiate. Burial will be at the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. rosary at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. Mr. Martinez was born on May 31, 1929 in Grand Island to Jose and Natalia (Ramirez) Martinez. Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Della of Grand Island; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rita & Roy DeLeon and Linda & Mario Rivera all of Grand Island; two sons and one daughter-in law, Rick & Jennifer Martinez and Dan Martinez all of Grand Island; three sisters, Isabell Galvan of Grand Island, Jerri Pena of Denver, and Phyllis Moreno of Scottsbluff. Additional survivors include six grandchildren, Meghan Roeser, Lisa DeLeon, Marcus Martinez, Michael Rivera, Zachary Martinez, and Alisia Rivera; and one great-grandson, Alexander Roeser. Mr. Martinez received his education at St. Mary’s School in Grand Island. Following his education he was employed by the Brown Fruit Company. He then moved to Chicago and worked in a candy factory. Mr. Martinez boxed with the Golden Gloves. He married Della Ramirez on January 17, 1953 in Grand Island. Mr. Martinez was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad for 43 years, before retiring in 1990. He then worked for Stuhr Museum until January 2004. He loved to attend dances and dance with his wife; he enjoyed doing yard work, fishing, and watching boxing on television. He was a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Eagles, and Stuhr Museum. Mr. Martinez was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carmel and Freddy Martinez; and one sister, Julia Melgoza.