Emanuel Sims II

November 1, 1949. He passed away on March 6, 2026, at the age of 77.

Emanuel was raised in Seaside, a place he loved deeply and carried with him throughout his life. Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, he was shaped by the family-centered community and coastal lifestyle. During his youth, he enjoyed playing football and baseball, creating memories that stayed close to his heart. He graduated from Seaside High School in 1967, where he built friendships that remained meaningful to him. He later attended Monterey Peninsula College and San Jose State University. In later years, he continued to celebrate his connection to the area, including his love for artichokes with visits to the Castroville Artichoke Festival. The values and sense of community he developed in Seaside stayed with him and were reflected in the way he lived and connected with others.

A true entrepreneur, Emanuel was a respected restaurant-owner and caterer who owned and operated Emanuel’s Chicken & Ribs for more than forty years. He was more than a business owner. He was a craftsman of flavor, a community staple, and a true BBQ pitmaster. At every catering event, the aroma from his BBQ pits drew people in before they ever saw him. Guests would follow the smell, stop to ask what was cooking, and often stay just to watch him work. Over time, he designed and built two custom BBQ pits capable of serving events of all sizes, from small gatherings to festivals, rib cookoffs, and county and state fairs. His reputation for excellence led to opportunities to cater for the San Francisco 49ers during their training camps at Sierra College and for the Sacramento Kings following practices at ARCO Arena. A major highlight of his career was catering at two Super Bowls, Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 and Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. After earning a booth in 1998 and impressing attendees with his food, he was invited back to San Diego in 2003, a testament to the lasting impact of his craft. His cooking did more than feed people. It created an experience that brought people together.

Emanuel believed in building more than a business. He built a legacy within his family. He employed family members, including the younger generations, and created opportunities for them to work alongside him. Through those experiences, he passed down not only skills in the kitchen, but lessons in discipline, work ethic, entrepreneurship, and pride in one’s craft. For all, working with him was both a rite of passage and a lasting gift.

Later in life, Emanuel deepened his faith and became a member of the

Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was a dedicated member of the Citrus Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he served as an elder, was on the church board, and served on Social Committees. He was also a patched member of the Sabbath Keeper Motorcycle Ministry, which is committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the motorcycle community. Through his faith, he found purpose, community, and lifelong friendships, including Valerie and Dana, Tammy, Sherry, Tim, and many others. He shared the gospel and his faith with everyone he knew and loved, leaving a lasting spiritual impact.

Emanuel was known for his deep and unmistakable voice, his infectious smile, and a laugh that could fill any room. If you heard his laugh, you knew you were in the right place. He carried himself with a jovial, caring, and friendly spirit that made others feel welcomed, seen, and valued. Whether through a shared meal, a conversation, or simply his presence, Emanuel had a way of making people feel at home. He lived by values that left a lasting mark on those around him, embodying compassion, fairness, spirituality, wisdom, humor, honesty, and a deep commitment to pouring into future generations. His legacy is one of love, resilience, and joy, carried on through his family and all who knew him.

He found joy in cooking, spending time with his family, cheering on his favorite teams, exploring kitchen gadgets, keeping up with the latest cooking trends, and watching sermons from Doug Batchelor and Mark Finley. These moments were simple yet meaningful and reflected the life he built around connection, love, and community.

Emanuel was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, LaVern Sims, who preceded him in death in 2003. He was a proud and loving father and is survived by Adrian Sims and Sherrie Sims, and a cherished grandfather to Adrian Sims, Emanuel Sims, Renee Sims, and Mikah Sims.

Emanuel is also survived by his siblings, sisters LoVera Watkins; Jacque Gurley (husband Benjamin); and Linda Burden (husband Raymond); his brothers Fred Sims (wife Jackie) and Donald Sims. He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Sims. He also leaves behind his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herb and Willie Shedd, his sister-in-law, Sonja Stevens, and many nieces and nephews who loved their uncle deeply.