Anthony Thomas Manka, Sr., 81, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, passed away on February 1, 2026, at his home. He was born on April 20, 1944, in Holdingford, Minnesota, and was the son of Edward Manka and Claudia Manka (Meller).
Anthony moved to Hendersonville in 1969, where he began a long and dedicated career as a fabrication welder at Engineer Associates (EA), working there for 17 years. He later joined Diboco Fire Sprinklers, where he worked for 32 years until his retirement.
Anthony is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carolann Retzlaff Manka; his children, Anthony Manka, Jr. (Robin), Sandra Manka Mundy (Ron), and Jeffrey Manka (Stephanie); 11 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Agnes Manka Drutschmann (Joe) and Eva Manka Schaefer (Al).
Surviving siblings include John Manka (Sharon), William Manka (Crystal), Doris Meller.
Anthony enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and fabricating projects through his welding skills. During retirement, he especially enjoyed traveling to visit family and spending time with his energetic grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He also loved watching and attending college football games at NC State University, Western Carolina University, and Wingate University, where his children and grandchildren attended. Even with a “conflict of interest,” his favorite NFL teams were the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 21, with visitation from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM, followed by the Celebration of Life service at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 4096 Little River Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Four Seasons Foundation, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731
John 16:22 — “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
Condolences may be sent to the Manka family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or C/O Jackson Funeral Service 1101 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Please include the name of the deceased on the condolence.