Manuel N. Gastelum

October 17, 1940 - January 24, 1998

Born in General Hospital Los Angeles, California to Annie Nieblas and Manuel Gastelum of Mexicali. Manuel grew up in Azusa, California and was raised by his grandparents, and uncles who adored him as the youngest boy of the family. He attended Citrus Union High School where he played in the band and played football and graduated in 1959. Manuel elisted in the U.S. Army in 1962 and was stationed at Fort Ord near Monterey, California and later at The Presidio in San Francisco. He played in the U.S. Army Band. Manuel was honorably discharged in 1965 and went on to work for United Airlines at San Francisco International Airport as part of the United ramp crew. He married for a short time, divorced and moved back to home to Azusa where he met and married Nadia Urbizo in 1969 and started a family. They would later divorce in 1982 but was still very much a part of his two children's lives; Andrea Gastelum-Redfern (b.1970) of Marina del Rey and David Gastelum (b.1977) of Redondo Beach. Manny's passion was music. He played piano and all of the wind woods; saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, alto-saxophone, and flute. He credits his mother Annie for his musical talent. Manny played with famous musicians like "Doc" Soverinsen, and Art Pepper. As a career he became a tanker truck driver holding perfect safety records and was relied upon to train other drivers. He took his son with him and taught the valuable lessons of hard work and dedication. Manuel is survived by his estranged wife Nadia Urbizo, loved and missed dearly by his children Andrea and David, and grandchildren whom he never met on earth: Sara, Hannah, and Pashmina (the kitty), beloved sister Mary Lou Salas, his loving cousins. You are beloved, loved, and missed, dad! We think about you all of the time and thought of dearly. Thank you for all of your love, dedication, hard work and doing your best.  We love you dad! We love you granmpa!!