James McManus

James “Jimbo” Andrew McManus, age 62, of Wayne, passed Wednesday, July 8, 2020.  Jim has lived in Paterson, Scotland, Texas, Florida , and North Haledon before moving to Wayne in 2009.

He was born in Dumont to James and Marie McManus. He graduated from Manchester High School with the Class of 1976. He served in the US Navy in both Scotland and Texas. He always enjoyed working with his hands and has held many jobs relating to mechanic work and as a truck driver. He loved motorcycles and currently had three.  For over forty years he has been working, tinkering and riding all kinds of motorcycles.  His 1951 Harley Davidson Pan Head, that he built himself, was his baby.

Jimbo loved being outdoors. He enjoyed blasting music in the garage and listened to it while sitting in his chair under the tree in the yard. He enjoyed trips to Disney World and summers in Wildwood.  Most important to him was his family.  The close knit bond they all had was devastated by his passing. The memory of him endearingly calling his daughter Hanna “My Little Pooperella” will always be treasured.  Hanna used to be embarrassed when Jimbo would pick her up or drop her off from school in his old 1964 Ford pickup.  That was until one of the kids said her dad’s truck was awesome.  This gave Hanna her initial appreciation and helped her understand her dad’s love for the beauty of nostalgic cars, trucks, and motorcycles. He was very proud to see Hanna when attending her fencing competitions.  He bought Hanna a cat named Cookie and wound up loving that cat to pieces. Cookie would wait for him to come in the door and roll over for belly rubs. Jim will also be fondly remembered for always saying: “If I don’t see you through the week.  I’ll see you through the window.”

Jim and Lorraine were introduced by mutual friends.  She was living in an apartment above Wizard’s Pub in North Haledon and met Jim when he was going to a concert with friends.  Their first date was to his basement apartment where he made her Italian Sauce and pasta for dinner.  They soon fell in love and married on December 4, 2004.

He is survived by his loving wife of sixteen years Lorraine McManus; his loving daughter Hanna McManus of Wayne; his cherished mother Marie LaBarck of Haledon; His late father James McManus; his dear sister Jill Colella and her husband Rob of Pompton Plains, his late brother Ronny McManus and his surviving wife Valerie McManus of Oakland; his late sister Jackie McManus; and was loved by many nieces and nephews. He was also the loved son-in-law of Louise and Tony Machado of Clifton and her late husband Tom Jobeless; and his sister-in-laws Lois Jobeless of North Haledon and Elaine Bruce and her husband Wil of Clifton.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.