BLOOMINGTON
On December 25, 2017, we lost a wonderful, caring son, husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather. Manuel Guzman lost his battle with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), a rare form of Alzheimer’s Disease, at the age of 70. He died peacefully at his Bloomington, IN, home.
Manuel was born on October 23, 1947, in Merdedes, Texas, to Rafael Guzman Jr. and Victoria Bernal Guzman.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Shirley (Scott) Guzman, his high school sweetheart. Shirley has known Manuel since she was 14 years old and doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t love him.
He is also survived by his mother and loving children and grandchildren: Melissa (Guzman) Groenewold and her husband Matthew Groenewold, Charles (Chuck) Manuel Guzman and his wife Stella Guzman, Levi Rafael Groenewold, and Arizona Hope Guzman.
Manuel was a wonderful father and proud grandfather who loved his family more than anything in the world. Always one for family gatherings, he loved to celebrate holidays and to go on family vacations. He worshiped his grandchildren and left them with a lifetime of fun memories.
Manuel graduated from Brown County High School and Porter Business College and attended Ivy Tech and IUPUI of Columbus, Indiana. An avid learner, he took classes for over 25 years so that he was always “prepared for the next opportunity.” He never liked the word “can’t” and was never satisfied with less than his best effort. He believed in the importance of education and taking advantage of all available opportunities. In the tradition of loving his parents, who worked tirelessly to give him all that they could, including a college education, he worked to ensure that his two children valued education. Among his proudest accomplishments was to have to children and two grandchildren with college educations.
In 2001, he retired as Senior Engineer from Cummins Engine Company after 32 years of service. Always enamored with his job at Cummins, he worked his way up from block line to engineer. He always made it clear to all that knew him that he was grateful for and valued the opportunities that Cummins offered him.
Upon retiring from Cummins, he and his wife fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved to Florida to enjoy the beach life. Manuel and Shirley loved walking on the beach every day. Never one to waste the benefits afforded him, he was always proud to report that today was the last time that he had walked the beach.
In 2012, the Guzman’s returned to their Eagle Pointe Condo in Bloomington, IN, to be close to family.
A fanatic for active living, he loved golf, tennis, yoga, and walking. He was a music lover who enjoyed practicing with his guitar. Although he said he wasn’t very good at playing the guitar, his family knew better. Phyllis Scott always had the best time dancing with him because he was the only one who could dance the 2-step with her.
In February of 2013, Manuel was diagnosed with Posterior Cortical Atrophy. He was adamant that he would live his life to the fullest and do all that he could to contribute to better understanding and ultimately curing the disease. He participated in the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Center’s (IADC) clinical core research study from 2013 to present.
His family sincerely thanks the Alzheimer’s Association (Indianapolis and Bloomington Chapters) and IU Hospice of Bloomington, Indiana for all their help and support. The family ask that in lieu of sympathy cards or flowers, donations may be given in the name of Manuel Guzman to Walk to End Alzheimer’s Bloomington, Indiana (alz.org/walk).
Allen Funeral Home and Crematory, 4155 S. Old State Road 37, Bloomington, has been entrusted with arrangements. You are invited to share a memory or leave an online condolence to Manuel’s family at www.allencares.com.
