Photo No. 2426

[Back] [Next]   [Thumbnails]   [Home]

Joseph Louis Manena, 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 5, 2018, at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Jennings, LA; his home for 12 years. Joe was a 1st generation Italian; his father having been born in Corleone, Sicily, he embraced and embodied his Italian heritage.

A lifelong resident of Lake Charles; Joe graduated from LaGrange High School (1949) and Port Arthur Collegiate Institute as a Telecommunication Technician (TT). He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War, serving in Korea. Since 1955, he was an active Amateur Radio  Ham Operator; call letters W5DEA. In 1986, after 31 years of service, he retired as a TT from Gulf States Utilities. In 1969, he began serving on SOWELA's TT Advisory Board. In his spare time, he was a Broadcast Engineer for KPAC-AM, KLOU-AM, and KLCL-AM/FM; radio DJ Joe Marconi.

He was a member of the GSU Sideliners, VFW-Post 2130, IBEW-Local 2186, National Association of Radio & Telecommunication Engineers, American Radio Relay League, Lake Charles Yacht Club from 1976 to 1986, Calcasieu Rod & Gun Club, USCG-Auxiliary, retiring after 20 years of service. He was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Pam Manena (Thompson) of Lake Charles; 2 sons, Joseph Frank and wife Debbie of Seagoville, TX and Michael and wife Susie, also of Lake Charles; grandson, Bron Thompson and wife Trisha of Phoenix, AZ; nieces, Frances "Bootsie" Manena Brown, Carmen Manena Aghili, Beverly Lois Manena Howard, Karen Manena Rentrop, Beverly Patricia Manena Kilpatrick, and Lois Manena; sister-in-laws, Laura Paxton of AZ and Rosa Lee Clayton of TN; Cousin and best friend Tony LeBato of Lake Charles; Lifelong friend Joan Rhorer Tapley of Houston; close family friend Caletha Savoy of Jennings plus many Kent Family nieces, nephews, grand-Nieces and Nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Pietro and Francesca Colletto Mannina; Parents, Frank Paul and Frances Paula DiMiceli Manena; the mother of his children, Fay Kent Manena Craft; 2 brothers, Pete J. Manena, Sr. and Gus C. Manena and sister, Frances A. Bellomo; niece Carolyn Bellomo Brocato; nephew Pete Manena, Jr.; close companions, Ruby Davis, Rosalie "Roe" LeDoux, and Sadie Brocato Pohler.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on December 11th , at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Father Charles McMillin will officiate. Interment will be at Hayes Cemetery in Hayes, LA. Visitation will be at the funeral home on December 10th from 4 until 8 p.m., 5:30 p.m. Eulogies followed by a rosary at 6 pm.

The family would like express their sincere gratitude for the SWLA Veterans Home for their amazing care, kindness and love they gave our father and family over the last 12 years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SWLA Veterans Home, 1610 Evangeline Road, Jennings, LA 70546 or Homeless Veterans in Vinton, LA.

Daddy's Instructions to Pam: I want a sendoff like your Mom's... I want someone to know that I walked this earth.