Manuel Ibarra

Manuel Ibarra passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at the age of 63. He was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico on July 20, 1956 to his parents, Manuel G. Ibarra and Ethelvina P. Ibarra. He was the oldest of his siblings and has 3 younger sisters. Manuel moved to San Antonio, TX with his family at 6 years of age in 1961. He attended St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School before graduating from Jefferson High School and then earning his associate degree from San Antonio College in 1983. Manuel joined the San Antonio Fire Department in 1976 with his first day on the job being his 20th birthday. He was later promoted to engineer/fire apparatus operator, driving the truck for his shift crew. He proudly served the City of San Antonio for 35 years, retiring from the SAFD in 2011. In addition to his fire fighter career, he worked at HEB for a decade, working his way up to assistant store manager. He later obtained his real estate license in 1983 and worked as a real estate agent for 36 years, helping his clients buy and sell residential, commercial and farm and ranch properties in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. As a successful realtor, he was recognized as the top sales agent at Northwest Real Estate for numerous years. Manuel met his wife Nancy G. Ibarra on April 16, 1985 at a "Career Day" event at Wilson Elementary School. They were married on March 7, 1987 at Our Lady of the Lake University chapel and celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary this year. He was a loving, hard-working and supportive husband and father to his 3 daughters, Claudia, Christina, and Cynthia. He was proud to provide Catholic school educations to all 3 of his daughters at St. Luke Catholic School and Antonian College Preparatory as well as college educations at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at San Antonio. He was also a parishioner of St. Luke Catholic Church where he was an active member in the church community and its ministries. His involvement includes being a eucharistic minister, a coach and team minister for his daughters' CYO softball teams, a CYO board member, a Men's Club member, and most notably past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, where he helped start the organization's annual golf club tournament and other successful fundraising events. Manuel was a man of God and brother in Christ who was passionate about his prayer and faith life. He attended his first ACTS retreat in 2002 and served as a team member on several English and Spanish ACTS retreats through St. Luke's and mission retreats. He was also a founding member of the Shields of Christ ACTS retreat, which was created specifically for law enforcement and fire fighters and first responders. He served as co-director for the first retreat and a director for the second retreat. In his free time, Manuel loved to golf, grill and watch his favorite comedians and sports teams play. He always put his family first and enjoyed every opportunity he had to spend with his wife, daughters and extended family, coordinating get-togethers and trips whenever possible. His legacy is built on service, kindness, generosity, respect and community as well as putting faith and family first. Always a helper and a gatherer, he spent thousands of hours serving others in his communities through evangelization and motivating others to get involved and serve in unity. Manuel is preceded in death by his father, Manuel G. Ibarra. He is survived by his wife, Nancy G. Ibarra; daughters, Claudia Ibarra, Christina Ibarra, and Cynthia Ibarra; mother, Ethelvina P. Ibarra; sisters Ethelvina Perez (Andres), Leticia Estrada (Ruben), and Marisa Urias (Edward); father and mother in-law, Michael and Josie Garcia; sister in-law, Kathy O'Brien (Chris); brother in-law, Michael Garcia (Stephanie); and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at St. Luke Catholic Church (4603 Manitou Dr.) ROSARY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 7:00 PM ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH 4603 MANITOU DR. MASS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 10:00 AM ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH 4603 MANITOU DR. Following the mass, a reception will be held at St. Luke Catholic Church Parish Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A procession to Holy Cross Cemetery will depart at 1:00 p.m. (17501 Nacogdoches Rd.)