Michal D. “Mike” Manley, also affectionately known as “Hoss”, 70, of Traer, Iowa, passes away on Monday, January 26, 2026, at Unity Point Allen Hospital in Waterloo. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Reinbeck Memorial Building in Reinbeck. Memorials may be directed to the family. Abels Funeral and Cremation Service is honored to be assisting the family.
Mike was born on April 8, 1955, at the family farm in Gladbrook. He was the devoted son of Cecil and Noreen (Hoeg) Manley. He was raised in Reinbeck and graduated from Reinbeck High School. After high school he began working for local farmers on their farms. He then drove Semi Trucks for many years. It was in 1987, when he was working at Lenertz Truck Wash, Mike met the love of his life Judy Kunz. Mike owned, operated, and was the chef at his restaurant, the Hi-Way Café in Reinbeck. He ran that restaurant from 1981 until 1999. Mike then went to work as a chef for Meskwaki Casino Hotel for over 20 years.
Mike loved to garden, his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and going to One Direction concerts with his granddaughter Sabrina. She loved going to sporting events with Judy and Sabrina; their family trips to Disney World and his great-grand pup Kaminsky. Mike knew everyone, and everyone knew and loved Mike. He will be missed and long remembered by all.
Left to cherish Mike’s memory are his partner, Judy Kunz; granddaughter Sabrina; great-grand pup Kaminsky; sister Gay Oulman; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Verlyn “Nub” Sager and Donnald “Butch” Sager; sisters Connie Verduyn and Kathy Manley; and stepdaughter Wendy Biggs.
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