Samuel T. Mangieri

Samuel “Sam” Thomas Mangieri, 64, of Frisco, Texas, passed away March 7, 2019, at Stonemere Rehabilitation Center in Frisco, Texas, as a result of compromised health following a spinal cord injury. Sam was born March 24, 1954, in Galesburg. He attended Costa Catholic High School and Galesburg Senior High School, from which he graduated in 1972. In high school, he was a star athlete who played football, baseball and golf, even winning the Illinois Team District State Final Golf Championship in 1970-71. He attended Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, where he was a member of the college’s golf team. Sam worked for Burlington Northern Railroad and Bridgeway in Galesburg.In March 2016, Sam sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury, which led to his move to Stonemere to receive long-term medical care. Despite his injury, he embraced life with courage, determination and perseverance. He loved God first and foremost, his family & life. Sam’s strong Catholic faith and love of God nurtured his kind spirit and his desire to always put others before himself. He is remembered by his fellow patients and caregivers at Stonemere as a friendly greeter to visitors, whose sweet words were a gift to all. Sam’s passion for sports and competitive nature involved his favorite teams, Chicago Cubs, Indiana Pacers, & Dallas Cowboys. Sam was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Nicholas Mangieri of Galesburg, and his mother, Marguerite Anne Mangieri, of Galesburg. He is survived by his siblings Annette Peterson & Jeff Peterson (Brother In-Law), Pamela Cherry, Julie Johnson, Loretta Ramby, Anthony Mangieri II, and Jay Mangieri; and his nieces Melissa Martin, Adrienne Dunn, Rachael Ramby, and Brianna Mangieri, nephews the Late Eric Dunn, Dennis Cherry, Derek Cherry, Aaron DeSalvo, Joey Johnson, and Anthony R. Mangieri, and Sam's great nephews, Nicholas Cherry, Donovan Cherrry, & Brandon Hernandez. Cremation arrangements have been made with Watson - Thomas Funeral Home. Memorial Mass for Sam will be Friday July 19, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholich Church, Galesburg.  Rev. William T. Miller will officiate.  Burial will follow in Abingdon Cemetery, Abingdon.  In lieu of flowers, Charitable Donations can be made to:UT Southwestern Medical Center Mobility Foundation Center For Rehabilitation Research Kent Waldrep Fund – Clinical Research in Spinal Cord InjuryOffice of Development & Alumni Relations P.O. Box 910888Dallas, TX 75391-0888