Manuel J. "Manny" Lopez

Manuel J. ‘Manny’ Lopez, 77 of Roeland Park, Kansas, died Friday, April 29, 2016. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 am Wednesday, May 4th, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 53rd and Mission Rd., Roeland Park, KS. Entombment at Resurrection Cemetery Mausoleum, Lenexa, KS. Visitation will be 5:30 to 8:30 pm Tuesday, May 3rd at the church, where the Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Little Sisters of the Poor, 8745 James A. Reed Rd., Kansas City, MO.

Manny was born July 3, 1938, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Joseph and Lucy (Garcia) Lopez. Manny was many things to many people – a devoted family man and a successful Kansas City restauranteur. Manny’s love for the restaurant business was born in working with his father at the Muehlbach Hotel in downtown Kansas City. He later worked at Reagan’s Riverboat, earning bartending awards and perfecting the art of building relationships with those he served. Jim and Madeline Reagan helped to guide him in opening his restaurant – Manny’s – at 20th and Southwest Boulevard with his wife, Vivian. For 36 years, Manny’s has served the greater Kansas City community. Manny’s professional legacy of hard work and dedication is a reflection of his strong love and devotion to his family. The foundation of quality service he helped to establish within the restaurant community was based on the aforementioned principles and his desire to serve others.

Manny was preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie Lopez and a brother, Reverend Joseph Lopez. His survivors include his wife of 42 years, Vivian of the home; his son, David Lopez (Emily); daughters Kathy Ritz (John), Renee Lopez, Kim Burdolski (Jim); brother, Ray Lopez (Isabel); sister, Mary Lou Rodriguez; 11 grandchildren, Libby, Danny, Kevin, and Kelsey Ritz, Frankie and Sammy Burdolski, Sophia, Joseph, Vincent, Rose, and Joshua Lopez; along with countless nieces, nephews cousins and friends.

“O dear Manny, we love you so much!”