Ken Manz

Ken Manz Our beloved Ken passed away peacefully at his home on August 24, 2009. He was born September 22, 1945 in San Mateo, the son of George and Marie Manz (Muras), and was raised on the Peninsula and in San Rafael. After graduating from San Rafael High he attended USF and UC Berkeley, and thereafter enlisted in the US Army. After returning from Vietnam, he met the love of his life, Kristine Curry, and married her soon after. He worked for the Marin County Library for 25 years, loving his job of driving through all of the beautiful communities of Marin. For the libraries he also learned the craft of bookmending and taught volunteers to do the same. During his retirement he enjoyed managing the COTS faith-based shelter program, and working for Gatti Nursery in Petaluma . The absolute joy of his life was first and foremost his family. His passing has left a void that will not be filled in the lives of his mother, Marie Muras, his wife and best friend, Kris, children, Elissa and her husband Noah Overton, Lelah, Stephen and his wife Stephanie; and his granddaughters, Sierra, Emily, Ashley, Olivia and Lilliana. He is also survived by his sister Kathy and her husband, Jeff Allen and their children, and his in-law siblings Mike and Jan Curry, Don and Jan Curry, Bill Curry and Bob Curry and their children, and the children of Patty and Rich Curry who preceded him in death. His second joy was the parish of St. James where he was a deacon for the last 14 years, humbly and faithfully serving the Lord. His deep faith glowed from him in his smile and actions. He focused on the strengths of everyone he met, he never judged, and embraced everyone for who they were. His other joys were reading, working in his garden, hiking, especially on Mt. Tamalpais, and running on the beach. His family wishes to acknowledge and thank Hospice for all the wonderful and gentle care that we received these last months, and the outpouring of love from relatives, friends and the parishioners of St. James, especially Fathers Michael Culligan and Boniface Nzomo . Family and friends are invited to attend a Vigil at St. James Catholic Church, 125 Sonoma Mtn. Pkwy, Petaluma, on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 7 p.m. and a Funeral Mass also at St. James on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 at 11a.m. Visitation is also available at Parent–Sorenson on Monday afternoon from 1-5 p.m. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Ken and Kris' charity of choice, Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090, and Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran Street, Petaluma, CA 94952. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor 4:18