Thomas Charles “Tom” Manfred was a devoted and loyal husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, veteran, railroad engineer, outdoorsman, competitor, and hardworking man. His strong personality and generous heart left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He passed away on August 26, 2026, at the age of 78.

Tom was born on May 9, 1948, to William and Mabel Manfred and grew up alongside his brother, Keith. He graduated from West Valley High School in 1966 and was a longtime resident of Liberty Lake, where he made his home for 42 years.

Tom proudly served his country in the United States Army Reserves from 1967 to 1973. An accomplished marksman, he earned the distinction of ranking first in his battalion in rifle sharpshooting.

In 1967, Tom also began what would become a 41-year career with the railroad. Tom loved trains. He worked as a locomotive engineer for BNSF Railway until his retirement in 2008. A hardworking and dedicated man, Tom took great pride in his work and was committed to providing for his family. The unpredictable schedule of railroad life meant he could not always be home when he wanted to be, but there was one time of year he made every effort not to miss: Christmas. Being with family and celebrating the magic of the season gave Tom the opportunity to be present and especially generous with his friends and family.

Tom was the proud father of four daughters and took tremendous pride in the women they became: Julie Gunderson (Dan), Jill Warner (Scott), Angila Hartman (Rob), and Jacquie Skaare (Chris). He was also a grandfather to 18 grandchildren: Colton, Hannah, Aidan, Shane, Sonja, Mikal, Riley, Century, Genesis, Lauren, Lottie, Carter, Brooklyn, Benji, Grace, Griffin, Sam, and Ian, who preceded him in death. His family continued to grow with seven great-grandchildren.

Competitive by nature, Tom found a natural outlet for that spirit in drag racing. A member of the NHRA, he raced from 1996 to 2017 and was highly successful in the sport, earning 12 coveted Wally Trophies.

He also loved the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing, and enjoyed golf as a longtime member of the Liberty Lake and MeadowWood men’s clubs.

Tom is survived by his wife, Valerie Manfred; his brother, Keith Manfred; his daughters, Julie Gunderson (Dan), Jill Warner (Scott), Angila Hartman (Rob), and Jacquie Skaare (Chris); his grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mabel Manfred, and his grandson, Ian.

His family will remember the outdoorsman, railroad engineer, racer, competitor, hardworking man, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—and especially the loyal man who fiercely loved his family.

Burial and Memorial Service

Burial and memorial services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 17825 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley, WA.