Fort Garland resident Manfred “Manny” Neumann passed away Monday, June 17, at his home after a brief illness. He was 60 years old.
Neumann is survived by his wife, Carla, daughter Chrystal, step-daughters Joy Marie Bishop and Flora Dee Simpson, step-sons James Bishop and Jesse Bishop, brother Michael Newmann, sister, Barbara, and 9 grandchildren.
Manny was born in Germany in 1952 and emigrated to the U.S. with his family at age 14. His first love was music, and he played in a popular band in the 1960’s before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969. He served five and a half years in the Army and was a Vietnam combat veteran.
Following his stint in the military, he married Carla Mansfield in 1976 and became an over-the-road trucker, a career he continued for 33 years. He and Carla moved to the San Luis Valley in 2003 and he became involved in music again, playing in local bands. He started a recording business, Woodcabin Studio, and recorded 2 CD’s of western music, Prairie Fire, with the Campfire Troubadours and She’s Got What It Takes, with Saddle Tramp on which he sang and played keyboards and guitar. He also recorded demo music for many local musicians and did radio advertising production work for several local businesses. He continued to record music until shortly before his death.
Services for Manfred Neumann will be held on Saturday, June 22, at 1:00 p.m. at The Church at Fort Garland, 614 Pfieffer Avenue in Fort Garland.