Manfred Alois Gorke, Jr

Manfred Alois Gorke, Jr

Manfred Alois Gorke, Jr. was born on October 31, 1929 in Staten Island, NY. Manfred is survived by his loving wife and partner of nearly 65 years Nancy Gorke, his daughter and son-in-law Gretchen and Joe Sirard, and his son and daughter-in-law Roger and Chaan Gorke. Manfred loved his four grandchildren: Amanda Behrendtsen and her husband Ole; Lucas Martin, Luke Bradford, and Jackson Gorke; and his six great-grandchildren Paislie, Ezra, Brody, Harlow, Wesley, and Lizzie.  

Manfred was Fred to most who knew him. He was also called “Toto” by his mother (Mildred Gorke), sister (Eleanor Peck), and his five nephews: David, Donald, Larry, Gary, and Jeff Peck who always called him “Uncle Toto”. Fred also loved his three cats, Ginger, Millie, and Mrs. Beasley who always begged for treats from him.

Fred served in the Korean War with the 40th Infantry Division, 115th Medical Battalion of the U.S. Army. Fred loved being in the Army, loved attending annual Army reunions, and was proud to have served his country. 

Fred had a tremendous love of cars, cats, and photography. He spent every August with his “racing buddies” at Bonneville Speed Week taking pictures of anything and everything that crossed his lens. 

Fred had over 68,000 pictures on his iMac. In addition to the pictures from Bonneville, he had pictures from Japan and Korea from his service in the Army, every family get-together, football and baseball games, and from all over the world. Pictures from places he traveled with his wife Nancy and in many cases, his sister Eleanor…Hawaii (where they went every other year for a month), Alaska, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, England, Greece, Mexico, Venezuela, the Panama Canal, and nearly every state in the Union. 

Fred will be missed by many more than just his family, friends, and his racing buddies. Fred will be missed by the thousands he touched in service through their church and many more who were fortunate to cross his path and were blessed by his kindness, outgoing nature, and bone-dry sense of humor.