John Joseph La Manna, a resident of Kuna, Idaho, passed away on May 7, 2018 from complications due to heart failure. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Kuna Idaho East LDS Stake Center, 8625 S. Linder Rd in Kuna. Born in New York City in 1947, to Gertrude Obarowski and Alphonso La Manna, John fondly recalled playing stick ball in the streets of New York as a young boy, which eventually led to his love of professional hockey. John worked for over 40 years in the New York and Los Angeles garment industry, where he had the privilege to work with such notable figures as Gloria Vanderbilt and Calvin Klein, traveling throughout Europe and Asia. With a savvy knowledge of business and manufacturing, John later went on to consult for a variety of apparel manufacturers and construction companies on the west coast. After moving to Idaho in 2005, he went on to start a partnership company in building custom homes in Boise and Star, Idaho. John valued the simple pleasures in life; he loved talking to family and friends about business, sports, science fiction movies, local Italian restaurants, as well as listening to the music of the 60's and 70's and watching USC college football. Some of his fondest memories involved loved ones gathered around a table to share in a delicious meal and good conversation. He was also a passionate lover of dogs, always finding a way to spoil them and treat them more like children, especially Humphry James Bogart, his English springer spaniel. He is survived by his wife Lori (Ellis); his son Matthew; and two children from his first marriage to Carolyn Menahen, daughter Melissa (Guy) DiNardi of Hillsborough, New Jersey and son Jamie (Melissa) of Los Angeles, California; four grandchildren: Dominic DiNardi, Christopher DiNardi, Alexander La Manna, and Megan La Manna; and a sister Connie (Salvatore) Vaccarino of Ridgefield, New Jersey. He is also survived by his nieces: Elizabeth Vaccarino of Ridgefield, New Jersey, (and his great-niece Alexander Vaccarino), Linda Vaccarino of Ridgefield, New Jersey, Terri Vaccarino of Belmar, New Jersey and his nephew Joseph Vaccarino (Denise) of Long Island, New York, (and his great-nieces Sophia and Briana Vaccarino). They fondly called him Uncle Johnnie, which made him very proud. Recently an unexpected genealogy surprise occurred when John was introduced to a half-brother, Robert La Manna (Loretta) of Milledgeville, Georgia and his children: Laurie La Manna Harrison, Deb La Manna, Robert La Manna Jr., Sherrie La Manna and many new nieces and nephews.
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