Michael Bradley Manko

Michael was born in Marblehead, Ohio on August 4, 1939. He enlisted in the Navy in 1960 and began his career on nuclear submarines and after being commissioned as an officer serving on the USS Lafayette, Belknap, Truckston, and Perry. He attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he became a foreign affairs officer and was stationed in Tehran, Iran. Michael’s medals and commendations include the: Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal with Valor. He retired from the Navy in 1980 and went to work for the Ottawa County, Ohio Department of Human Services as the director from 1981 until he retired in 1999 to Florida with his family. While enjoying retirement Michael was involved in numerous military and civic organizations to include serving as the chair of The Queens Harbor Pops Committee, Board of Directors of the Mayport Navy League, Colonel in the Honorable order of Kentucky Colonels, but his pride and joy was being involved with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

Michael and is larger than life eyebrows will be missed by his wife Patricia of Jacksonville. Son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Jamie Manko and grandchildren Colton, Thadeous, and Hadley all of Sumter, South Carolina, and adopted daughter Iranda Manko of Ohio, many wonderful friends. Michael was preceded in death by his parents Alex and Ruby Manko of Marblehead, Ohio and granddaughter Delainey-Mae Kathleen of Sumter, South Carolina, and his beloved wiggle-butt, Esce-Beagle.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Michael on Friday, February 2nd, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2400 Mayport Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32233.

Michael will later be interred at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32218, on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 at 2:00 PM.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Dormition Byzantine Catholic Church, 17 Buckskin Ln. Ormond Beach, FL. 32174.