Manuel Gonzales, 80, World War II Veteran

He was born March 25, 1925 in Indiana Harbor, Indiana. He came to Lorain as a child.

Mr. Gonzales retired in 1988 as the owner and operator of Gonzales Painting and Decorating in Lorain. Previously to that he was a machinist for Thew Shovel Company, Lorain.

He was a World War II veteran of the European theater of war. He fought in Normandy, the battle of the Bulge, and Elba River. He and his fellow solders met up with Russian troops, for which he earned four bronze stars and the Good Conduct Metal.

Mr. Gonzales was a member of Saint Vitus Catholic Church in South Lorain where he volunteered his painting skills. He was also a member of Masons who enjoyed woodworking and recording music.

Among the survivors are his Daughter Sharol Ann Leibas of Lorain; brothers Jesse, Fred, Joe, and Ray Gonzales all of Lorain, Ignatius Gonzales of Sheffield Lake and Arthur Gonzales of West Virginia; sisters Mary Jones and Theresa Bojdo both of Lorain; eleven Grandchildren and ten Great Grandchildren and his companion Lorene Diesel of Lorain.

He was preceded in death by his wife 46 years Mary (nee Majzun) Gonzales in 2001, a son Donald Manuel Gonzales this year, his parents Jesus M. and Teresa (nee Moreno) Gonzales and a sister Rose Ybarra.

Friends may call Friday 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain, Ohio, where the Parish Rosary will be 3:30 PM Friday in the funeral home.

Funeral services will be Saturday with closing prayers at the funeral home at 9:30 AM followed by Mass at 10:00 AM in Saint Vitus Catholic Church, East 32nd Street and Pearl Avenue, South Lorain. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain Ohio, where the Disabled American Veterans, Louis Paul Proy, Chapter 20, Lorain will conduct military honors.