Gualberto “Bert” D. Manacsa, a resident of Mundelein and formerly of Skokie, passed away January 15, 2011, at the age of 77.

Born in the Philippines, he immigrated to America on the day Man first reached the moon, braving his own jump into the unknown to find a better life for his wife and young children. There, he helped create a good life for a family now grown into a clan spanning four generations. Bert also helped lead the Principal Financial Group at the Lincolnwood Agency, where he mentored a generation of agents and helped countless families find financial security.

Bert is survived by his wife Dolores “Lolly,” his children Odette (Billy) Prudencio, Gilbert (Buck Winslow), Rosela (Chuck) Simpson, and Gerry (Karina Descartin), his grandchildren Khristine (Ian) Anderson, Kevin (Claudia Gavina) Prudencio, and Solange Simpson, his great-grandchildren Owen and Kyle Anderson, his sisters Porfiria “Puring” Valerio and Digna “Denny” Casupang, his nieces Grace (Ronnie) Garcia and Loida “Loowee” Manacsa, his great niece Grachelle (Mark) Linton, his great nephew Ryan Garcia, his caregiver Teresa, and a host of loved ones spread across the world.

A funeral mass is scheduled for Friday, January 21, 2011, at 10:30am at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 8116 Niles Center Rd., Skokie, IL (view map), followed by interment at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie (view map). Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, January 19, and Thursday, January 20, 2011, from 4:00pm until 9:00pm with a wake service on Thursday at 7:00pm at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030 (view map). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851. For information, call 847-223-8122 or log on towww.strangfuneral.org.