Manuel Apodaca

Manuel G. Apodaca, 78, of Casa Grande died on Aug. 8, 2012, at Hospice Family Care.
Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Community Center, with rosary recited at 1:30. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 by the Rev. John Arnold. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.
Mr. Apodaca was born on May 5, 1934, in Casa Grande. He was an all-around outstanding athlete at Casa Grande Union High School and at one time held a state pole vault record. He also was on two state champion football teams and was an All-State kicker.
He served in Germany with the Army as a radio operator and had a high security clearance. He later was a welder working in construction and a member of Operating Engineers Local 428. He was a member of St. Anthony's Church and was involved in the Cursillo Movement.
Survivors include three sons, Manuel Apodaca Jr. of Arizona City, Daniel and Arturo Apodaca of Casa Grande; three daughters, Elizabeth A., Kathrine and Victoria Apodaca, all of Casa Grande; a brother, Jose Apodaca of Casa Grande; a half-brother, Jesus Sierra of Lancaster, Calif.; a sister, Rafaela Trujillo of Bakersfield, Calif.; a half-sister, Esther Apodaca of Casa Grande; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Octavio, Michael and Francisco Apodaca.
J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.