Manuel "Manny" Guerra, Jr.

Manuel “Manny” Guerra Jr., 82, of New Berlin, Wisconsin, born January 4, 1944, in Weslaco, Texas, found his rest on August 22, 2026, after years of courageously battling illness.

He leaves behind his beloved daughter, Kerri L. Wojcik (nee Guerra), and son-in-law, Scott Wojcik; his beloved companion, Suzanne Warczak; grandchildren, Antonia (Taylor) Schmidt and Zachary Wojcik; and great-grandchildren: Mila, Eli, Raelyn, Watson, and Walker. He is also survived by his beloved brothers: John Guerra, Abel Guerra, and Charlie Guerra.

He also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews and was known as "Uncle Manuel" to many.

Manny was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel Guerra Sr. and Maria D. Guerra (nee Rodriguez), and by his siblings: Joe, Paulie, Lupe, and Esperanza, whom he will now meet again on the other side.

Manny was born a musician. Music was woven into who he was, and throughout his life he spent many years chasing his dreams as a lead vocalist, performing alongside his brothers and close friends in various bands. His love of music never left him, and there was something especially beautiful about watching him sit outside with his guitar, filling the backyard with music.

Manny was a man of many talents. He owned and operated C&M Auto Body, later shared his knowledge and skills as a teacher at Esperanza Unida, and ultimately retired from Transit Express Body Shop. He was a true craftsman who believed in working hard for what you had and took pride in teaching others what he knew.

His creativity extended far beyond music and automobiles. Manny was a gifted portrait artist who painted many beautiful and meaningful portraits for family and friends. He loved to read and listening to old music. He enjoyed rewatching old Westerns and never turned down a good meal—whether he was making it himself or enjoying one at a favorite restaurant. And anyone lucky enough to have tasted his homemade guacamole knew that he made it with love and it was the best guac ever.

But perhaps some of Manny’s happiest moments were the simplest ones. He loved being outside, caring for the yard and garden, listening to the birds, and watching them bathe in his birdbath he put together. He could often be found sitting in his chair or relaxing in his hammock, keeping an eye on the squirrels and giving them plenty of his opinions. In his final year, when he could no longer do the work himself, he would sit and watch his daughter tend to the yard, offering his input on the flowers and garden just as he always had.

Manny loved people. He had many friends and extended family members whom he loved dearly, and he cherished family gatherings and the feeling of everyone being together. He had a generous heart and was the kind of man who would give the shirt off his back if someone needed it. He touched countless lives simply by being Manny—a genuine, down-to-earth man who was loved by so many.

Above all, Manny loved his family. He was a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he treasured watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. He was continually amazed by the people they were becoming and found great joy in their lives.

To his daughter, Manny was more than a father—he was her daddy, her teacher, her protector, and one of the greatest loves of her life. She was, without question, a daddy’s girl.

For more than ten years, Kerri had the privilege of caring for her father through the most difficult years of his illness. Although Manny sometimes worried that he was a burden to Kerri and Scott, they would have had it no other way. Caring for him was a privilege and an expression of the love they had for him. They were blessed with precious time together, even as it broke their hearts to watch his illness slowly take away the things he loved to do.

Manny was a fighter. He fought cancer and all that came with it with incredible courage, strength, and willpower. Even when the days became dark and the road became impossibly hard, he kept fighting.

When Kerri was a little girl and life felt dark or she felt like giving up, her daddy would remind her:

“You’ll be alright. Just remember to always JAB, JAB, JAB.”

His words were inspired by Muhammad Ali—dance like a butterfly, sting like a bee—but Manny made them his own. They became more than words. They were a lesson in how to live:

Keep pushing. Never give up.

That is how Manny lived.

His legacy will live on in the music he shared, the portraits he painted, the work he taught others to do, the meals he lovingly prepared, the stories and laughter shared around family gatherings, and most of all, in the people he loved and the lives he touched.

We hope Manny knows now what he may not have always been able to see: how deeply he was loved, how much of a difference he made in the lives of others, and how greatly he will be missed.

May he finally be free from pain and suffering, reunited with those who went before him, and resting peacefully in God’s loving embrace.

And when we think of him, may we remember his courage. His strength. His stubborn determination. His music. His art. His love of family. His big heart. His humor. His simple joys.

And whenever life gets hard, may we hear his voice reminding us:

JAB. JAB. JAB.

Keep pushing. 

Never give up.

Rest peacefully, Daddy. You fought a good fight. You can finally rest. We love you, and we always will.

Celebration of Life

Following Manny’s cremation, his family will honor him with a Celebration of Life.

 To receive the location, please RSVP to; mannyscelebrationoflife@gmail.com

The Celebration will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. The Memorial celebration begins at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of a traditional funeral, the family will gather in the backyard that Manny loved so much. It is where he spent countless days playing his guitar, tending to the yard and garden, watching the birds, keeping an eye on the squirrels, and simply enjoying being in the moment.

Family and friends are invited to come share memories, stories, laughter, and love as we celebrate the life of a truly special man.

Please bring a chair if you would like to stay and visit with the family following the memorial until 4:00 PM.

Come as you are. Bring a memory of Manny to share, and most importantly, come together—the way he loved most.