Marcelino Mancha Jr.

An honorable, hardworking, and no frills sort of man, Marcelino Mark Torres Mancha, Jr. was an extraordinary man to know and love. He was compassionate and generous with his time, and when it came to his family and friends he was there to lend a hand in whatever way he could. A loving father, Mark was an active part of his childrens lives, and he loved nothing more than having fun with the people he cherished most. Life was not without times of trial for him, but he faced whatever came his way head on, never letting life get the best of him. With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around him, Mark created a timeless collection of memories that his loved ones will forever treasure. Expecting their first child during the depression and despite the hardship around them, Marcelino and Esperanza (Torres) Mancha, Sr. were able to shift their focus on an exciting time in their own lives as they welcomed their first son into their hearts and home on October 7, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas. Named Marcelino, he was the oldest of ten children in his family and was raised in Brownsville alongside his six sisters, Guadalupe, Yolanda, Gloria, Esperanza, Herlinda, Sylvia and Margarita and brother Miguel. He also had a sister Raquel and brother Hilario who unfortunately died as infants. His father supported his family as a longshoreman while his mother focused her time and attention at home. In many ways Marcelino, or Mark as he was often known, experienced an upbringing that was a reflection of young boys of his time. His mother was a strong influence in his life, and he was raised attending local Catholic schools and as an altar boy at church. From an early age he learned what it meant to work hard as he earned his own spending money doing odd jobs such as washing windows at a fish market before school. The money he earned was the money he used to build his own shoe shine box, which was another way he made money. Mark did give some of his earnings to his mother to help offset family expenses as times were tight in the Mancha family. When he had a little bit of extra money, Mark treated himself to the movies and candy. As a teen he traveled North to Michigan where he joined relatives during the harvest season in the Hart area, earning some additional income. He did this for several years before moving to live with his uncle in Michigan on a permanent basis at the age of 16. As a young man, Mark did a variety of odd jobs, but he eventually found work at the Brunswick factory in Muskegon. When he was drafted into the United States Army, he left Muskegon behind and served primarily as a vehicle driver. While in the military, Mark experienced severe damage to his ear when a gun was fired too close to him, and this injury would bring him challenges for the rest of his life. He served nearly four years altogether and then returned to Muskegon where he again worked at Brunswick. Mark made a career there for over 43 years, starting out on the floor and then moving up through various positions to eventually become a supervisor. Mark was also a member of IAM Local 1813. As someone with a love for learning and an inquisitive mind, he even helped with reformulating the process of how they made bowling balls. While he was busy establishing his career, Mark met the woman who would eventually become his wife and started a family with. Her name was Gloria Gonzalez and they met through some friends. They celebrated the birth of their son, Leonardo, in 1965, and daughter Debra in December of 1966. Their family later grew to include their son, Marcelino, in 1968 and their daughter, Raquel, in 1969. The Mancha family lived in various places in downtown Muskegon before settling into a house on W. Dale Ave. As a father Mark was very involved in the lives of his children, and he loved being together whenever he could. They made priceless memories on family road trips in the brown Dodge van to places like Cedar Point, Niagara Falls, Texas, and the Upper Peninsula. They also had an 18 foot speedboat and could often be found out fishing and boating on both Muskegon Lake and Mona Lake. Together he and Gloria were members of the Latin American Club. They were influential in getting the club up and running, and Mark even served as its president for several years. Although Mark and Gloria divorced in 1987, he was forever grateful for the children they shared. During his retirement years, Mark kept busy. He took several trips to Costa Rica and even considered moving there for a time. Mark did move down to Texas when his elderly father needed more help. While there he bought a place in Laguna Vista and worked security part time on Padre Island. After the death of his father, Mark returned to Muskegon. He loved attending his grandchildrens sporting events as often as he could. In fact, his granddaughters softball team considered Mark their good luck charm! He enjoyed playing pool and had his own table in his basement where he taught his grandchildren everything he knew about pool. He also enjoyed walking around Lake Michigan and exercising at Tanglewood Senior Center. With unending love for his family, Marcelino T. Mancha, Jr. was selfless when it came to helping his friends and loved ones. He was a peacemaker who tried to diffuse disagreements by saying, This isnt Burger King, but you can have it your way, which only shows his sense of humor as well. Mark was never one to worry about what he had, rather, his focus was on living fully in the moments he was given. He will never be forgotten. Marcelino T. Mancha, Jr. died on Sunday, July 5, 2015. Marks family includes his sons, Leonardo Mancha of Grand Rapids, Marcelino G. (Tammy) Mancha of AL; daughters, Debra (David) Parker of Muskegon, Raquel Thivierge of Muskegon; grandchildren, Nicole, Cody, Devin, Derek, Desi, Brandi, Gabriel, David, Dominique, Diego 5 great grandchildren; former wife, Gloria Gonzalez; sisters, Guadalupe Garcia, Yolanda Ramos, Gloria Pequeo, Esperanza Ramirez, Herlinda Lopez, Sylvia Mancha & Margarita Castillo. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Hilaro Mancha & Miguel Mancha and sister, Raquel Mancha. Services will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2015, 1:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.