Billy Manka

Billy Thomas Manka was born February 4, 1943, and passed away peacefully at Westfield Quality Care in Aurora, on December 22, 2025 at the age of 82. 
A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date.   Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be sent to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com
Bill grew up in Phillips and graduated from high school there in 1961.  He married Sondra Lindburg March 2, 1962, and together they had three children. They later divorced and he moved to Columbus.  In 2018, he moved into Westfield Quality Care due to declining health. 
In his early 20’s, while raising his family, he owned and operated Bill’s APCO service station in Grand Island, where gas was sold for 29 cents a gallon. 
In Columbus, he drove the city taxi for over 20 years. He never met a stranger and would go out of his way to help others in need. 
He enjoyed fishing, baking and going to the horse races. He also loved watching old westerns. 
He always had a song in his heart and could often be heard singing Elvis Presley songs, old hymns or Christmas carols. In recent years, he insisted he would be traveling to Vegas to put on a show. 
He was preceded in death by his mother Cressie Lear and father Thomas Manka, his brothers Dick and Danny, and sister Vada. 
Those left to cherish his memories are his son William (Amy) Manka of Alma, KS, daughters Shauna (John) Pursley and Sara (Dario) Diaz of Aurora,  grandchildren Megan Manka, Brieanna (Andrew) Toney, Joshua (Juliann) Manka, Seth (Becky) Manka, Wyatt Manka, Hunter (Alexis Pedersen) Pursley, Carter Pursley, Adrik Diaz, eighteen exchange student grandkids, fifteen great-grandchildren, sister Ada and brothers Lloyd, Harry and Wayne.