MANUEL D. FONSECA, age 93, of Hobart, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2025. He was born on December 6, 1931 in Gary, Indiana. He graduated from Froebel High School in 1950 and went on to work at Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad until his retirement in 1993. After retirement he helped take care of his mother until her passing. He loved to talk on the phone. He had volunteered for a crisis hotline for many years where he would call his regulars, lonely elderly people to cheer them up or talk callers down from their panics. Even after Contact Cares ended he had loved ones he called every evening that included his granddaughter and sister.  If he wasn't going to be home at the regular call time he would call them to tell them he wasn't going to call them. He walked a mile every day and all the neighbors got a wave and "Have a good day" from him. He never met a stranger. He enjoyed his bowling league and was sad when it ended. He was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran church and especially loved the bible study black coffee and delicious baked goods. He will be remembered as someone who loved life and deeply loved his family. He enjoyed visiting his family no matter how far away they lived and taking his mom or grandchildren along for the ride. He will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his children, Bob Fonseca, Kevin (Pauline) Fonseca, Hollye Blossom; step-children, Bob Crawford, Bill (Courtney) Crawford, and Traci (John ) Stingley; 18 grandchildren, Aaron {Robelen} Fonseca, Corey Fonseca, Joshua Fonseca, Jacqueline  Fonseca, Christopher [Dora] Fonseca, Jennifer [Brian] Fonseca-Batchelor, Heather [Abe] Laughlin, Brooke [Kevin} Moore, Vanessa [Baris] Guener, Courtney Blossom, Blake Crawford, Amy [Chris] Clawson, Michelle [Joshua] Chitwood-Hall, Lauryn Holling, Emily [Travis] Winger,Sarah [Tim] Holliing-Harell, Chloe [William] Kieser, Raegan Crawford; 31 great grandchildren, Dakota, Magdalene, Brielle, Eli, Kadence, Jack, Diana, Violet, Iris, Mailani, Vincent, Alex, Atlas, Artemis, Ellie, Oliver, Isabelle, Elise, Sagan, Allison, Garrett, Parker, King, Willis, Blaine, Jackson, Mackenzie, Diana Jane, Amelia, Byron, Eloise; 1 great-great grandchild, Olivia; brother, Harry (Elaine) Sosa; sisters, Vickie (George) Sioson, Stella Brown; other loving family and dear friends.

Manuel was preceded in death by his mother, Rita Sosa, and the father who raised him, Vincent Sosa; father, Joseph Fonseca; first wife and mother of his children, Aggie Fonseca; former wife and mother to his "Crawford" step children, Diana; son, Bryan Fonseca; brothers, Ralph Sosa, Richie Sosa, Tommy Aguilar, Bob Sosa, Rudy Sosa, Victor "Cheno" Aguilar; sisters, Rachel "Tootsie" Roop, Jenny Lopez, and Theresa Coleman,

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Comfort Dogs of Trinity Lutheran Church or VNA Hospice.

Visitation for Manuel will be Tuesday, July 1, 2025 from 3-8 p.m.  at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, 600 W. Old Ridge Rd. There will be additional visitation on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 900 Luther Dr., Hobart, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Nathan Kramer officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Lawn and Memorial Gardens. Please extend online condolences at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.