Obituary of Manuel Jesse Diaz

In Honor of our beloved father and patriarch Manuel J. Diaz that passed away on January 28, 2021 at the age of 97, due to complications of COVID-19. Manuel was born on February 18, 1923 in Silao Guanajuato, Mexico to Guadalupe and Ermelinda Diaz. He was the eldest of 12 children. Manuel came to the United States at the age of two years old. One of his passions was playing guitar and singing old hymns. The love of Manuel's life was his wife Aurora, of 64 years, who passed away in 2012. Manuel enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 when he was 19 years of age. His first assignment was guarding the B-17 bombers where he was stationed in England, prior to D-Day. He drove a staff car for an officer and served as a sergeant in the Military Police in France. Manuel wanted to do more for his country, he wanted to be on the front lines. He asked his commanding officer if he could be a paratrooper, his commanding officer told him "Are you crazy, you will die out there." Manuel was tenacious about going to the front lines, so he volunteered to become a paratrooper. Upon completing the training, the war ended, but his tour of duty was not over. Manuel was involved in post war clean-up of several European countries, Belgium, Austria, and Germany. Manuel is survived by ten children to name; Jesse Diaz, Rudy Diaz (Carmen), Freddy Diaz (Teresa), Chris Diaz, Maggie Adame, Rachel Ramirez, Rosie Rench (Robert), Belen Eisner (Dale), Aurora Platt (John), Kristine Almendarez (Ruben), numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Aurora, his daughter Petra, and son Ruben. Our father will be deeply missed by so many. Our family takes great comfort in knowing that our father was a bible reading man of God, and we know he is in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, along with his beloved wife our mother. Officiating Pastor Richard Tauriac. Private graveside services will be held February 10th at 1:30 PM at Cherokee Memorial Park and Funeral Home. There will be a celebration of life at a later date when we can all gather and safely share our memories.