As your eldest sister, I can still remember how sad I felt the day you learned to walk. I was sad because I had to go to kindergarten, and I wanted to stay home like Shirley, and play with my darling little brother. We enjoyed very happy childhoods together, blessed with such loving parents.
John David Manzo
March 10, 1947 ~ October 3, 2026
Born in:
Detroit, Michigan
Resided in:
Acworth, Georgia
John David Manzo, beloved husband, father, Papa John, Uncle Johnny and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 3, 2026, at the age of 79. He was born on March 10, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan to Sam and Beatrice Manzo.
John grew up in a large, close-knit Italian family as the only son among five sisters. As a young man, he served his country in the U.S. Navy for four years as a dental technician. After completing his military service, he returned home to Michigan, where he began a career in construction.
In 1974, John married Winifred Jean “Wini” Johnson, and together they built a home full of love and laughter while raising their two daughters, Laura and Sara. A career change to heavy equipment sales brought the family to Peachtree City, Georgia, where John became a successful Caterpillar salesman for Yancey Brothers. As the years passed, family was always at the heart of John’s life, and he treasured the time spent together, especially during large family gatherings and reunions that brought generations together to make lasting memories. Annual beach trips became cherished family traditions, creating special moments that his family would carry with them for years to come. John also found great joy in deep-sea fishing, a passion that reflected his love of the water. Wini passed away in 1992, after 18 years of marriage, though her memory remained a quiet and constant presence in the lives of John and his daughters.
In time, John was blessed to find love again. In 1998, he married Martha Eugenia De Guadalupe Ortega Canales, beginning a new chapter filled with love, companionship, and family. Martha, her son, Richie, and their extended Colombian family quickly became a beloved part of John’s life. Together, John and Martha embraced the blending of their cultures and family traditions. John and Martha also enjoyed exploring new places and discovering the unexpected joys that came with each journey. Whether traveling together, gathering with family, or spending time with friends, they valued the simple pleasures of good company, laughter, and meaningful connections. John enjoyed several career ventures, including owning a restaurant before returning to his roots in excavation. Over the years, he and Martha made homes in Senoia, Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama before finally settling in Acworth, Georgia. Their nearly 28 years together were woven with laughter, tears, family, and countless memories that made their life together so special.
Those who knew John will remember the charismatic energy he brought into every room. He always wore a big smile, was quick with a funny story, generous with his time, and impossible to forget. John had a special gift for making strangers feel like old friends and old friends feel like family. He approached life with a glass-half-full attitude, and not much ever ruffled his feathers.
John found joy in the simple pleasures of life: cooking; wood carving; gardening; and spending time with his family, friends, and faith community. Nowhere was John’s generosity more evident than in the kitchen. Cooking was one of his greatest passions, and for him, a meal was never just food; it was an invitation. He delighted in preparing massive pots of spaghetti and meatballs, making his famous barbecue salsa, and firing up the grill on a beautiful day. Few things made John happier than seeing the people he loved gathered around a table he had set. For John, cooking was one of the ways he said, “I love you.”
Above all, John loved the Lord and his family deeply. His family was his greatest source of pride and joy, and he treasured the relationships that shaped his life. He especially enjoyed sharing stories about Wini, Martha, his children, and his beloved grandchildren, keeping family memories alive through the stories he told. His faith was the foundation of his life, and he shared it daily through conversations with the people he met. In the later years of his life, John found not only a spiritual home at the Church of God – PKG but also a community he cherished. He opened his heart to those he worshipped alongside, offering friendship and fellowship, and they loved him in return.
John is survived by his loving wife, Martha Ortega Manzo; his daughters, Laura Althea Backes (Christopher) and Sara Ann Manzo (Matthew); his stepson, Ricardo Rodríguez (Angelita); his grandchildren, Nicholas Frederick Backes, Lilliana Winifred Backes, Walter Joseph Baranauskas, Winifred Rose Baranauskas, and Silvana Rodríguez; his sisters, Bernice Collura and Sandra Waling (Joseph); and many nieces, nephews, and friends who will carry his memory forward.
John was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his daughters, Winifred Jean Manzo; his parents, Samuel Manzo and Beatrice Collura Manzo; and his sisters, Shirley Macklin, Nancy Durfee, and Linda Gore.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die: and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26
We invite family and friends to join us in honoring and celebrating John’s life. Private Interment for Family Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Westminster Memorial Gardens, 2090 Highway 54 Peachtree City, Georgia 30269
Memorial Service and Reception Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Free Chapel (Alpharetta Campus) 3755 Mansell Road, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022. The service will be recorded or those unable to attend.
Flowers can be sent to either Westminster Memorial Gardens or Free Chapel by October 21, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to [link coming soon], please note “In memory of John David Manzo”.
Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support during this time. John’s light will continue to shine through all of us who were lucky enough to know him. We welcome you to provide your condolences, thoughts, and memories on our Tribute Wall.
Services
Private Graveside: October 22, 2026 9:00 am
Westminster Memorial Gardens
2090 Highway 54
Peachtree City, GA 30269
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2026-10-22 09:00:00
2026-10-22 09:00:00
JohnDavid ManzoPrivate Graveside
Private Graveside
2090 Highway 54,Peachtree City, GA 30269
Celebration of Life: October 22, 2026 1:00 pm
Free Chapel (Alpharetta Campus)
3755 Mansell Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022
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2026-10-22 13:00:00
2026-10-22 13:00:00
JohnDavid ManzoCelebration of Life
Celebration of Life
3755 Mansell Road,Alpharetta, GA 30022
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