Manuel H. Lugo

McFarland- Manuel H. Lugo, age 67, died very peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at Meriter Hospital Intensive Care Unit. He was born on March 20, 1947 in Anasco, Puerto Rico, son of Manuel Lugo and Ana Ramirez.  He graduated from Ana Roque High School and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaques.  He has a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1968 and was honorably discharged in 1972. He continued as a reservist until 1974. Manuel began his professional career with the Wisconsin State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).  He met his wife, Janis Caruso-Lugo at DVR, and together they retired from DVR in January 2010 after a combined 73 years of State Service.  Manuel and Janis were married on July 28, 1984. Manuel was a Licensed Professional Rehabilitation Counselor and promoted throughout his career in DVR to that of Supervisor, Regional Administrator, Director of the Bureau of Client Services, and Deputy Administrator. Manuel was a long time member and Chair of the Board of Directors of Madison College (MATC).  He has been President of the Board of the Council for the ...[more]

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or the Spanish Speaking.  Manuel had served as a Peer Reviewer for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and was an alumnus of the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute.  He had presented lectures at the University of Wisconsin and, at the national level, the President's Committee on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities, the Rehabilitation Services Administration and Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. Throughout Manuel's career in DVR he was a pioneer in technology and innovation.  He assured a focus on the DVR job seeker.  He had a passion in raising the standard of service to not only meet but exceed expectations.  He treated all staff in his leadership position with dignity and respect and he built the foundation that helped DVR achieve its best performance in 40 years.  He made a substantial difference in the lives of persons with disabilities across the State of Wisconsin.  Thousands of individuals have benefited from his contribution to the program. After his retirement, Manuel had established his business, Manuel H. Lugo Consulting Services.  His latest contract was with Easter Seals Wisconsin with their Agricultural Assistive Technology Project.  He provided training nationwide to increase the vocational rehabilitation employees' cultural competency and preparedness to assist farmers with disabilities. Manuel had a great love for anything automobile.  He was constantly tinkering around the two garages at home with anything related to cars.  He was often referred to as the encyclopedia for car information.  His collection of car magazines totaled over 10,000.  He was very proud of his son Tony's inherited passion for this car hobby.  Together they took care of the many classic cars parked in the garages, and along with Janis, attended many and various state and national car shows. Manuel and Janis were both merit badge counselors for Boy Scout Troop 53 in McFarland, WI and they were very proud of their son Tony's Eagle Scout honor. Manuel was an organ donor. He has already helped 50 people through the WI Tissue Bank with his donation.  Manuel is survived by his wife of 30 years, Janis Caruso-Lugo; three sons, Tony Lugo-Caruso of McFarland, M. Xavier (Anamaria) Lugo of Norfolk VA and Erik (Iris) Lugo-Escobar of San Antonio TX; daughter, Natasha (Brady Kammer) Lugo-Escobar of Germantown MD; four grandchildren, Catalina Lugo, M. Felipe Lugo, Isabella Lugo and Sebastian Lugo; his father, Manuel Lugo of Aquadilla, PR; brother, Jose (Johanna Recart) Lugo of Aquadilla, PR; brothers-in-law, Ronald (Debra) Caruso and William Caruso; sisters-in-law, Diane Caruso, Karen Mavis, Catherine "Susie" Caruso, all in the Milwaukee area; nephews and nieces, Manolo Lugo, Liana Lugo, Patrick (Anna) Caruso, Molly (Chuck) Campo, Jeff Mavis; and many other family and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ana Ramirez; brother-in-law, Gary Caruso; nephew, Bryan Caruso; father and mother-in-law, Carmine Dominic and Dorothy Caruso. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Cress Funeral Home in McFarland.  Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon immediately following in the Cress community room.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the time of services Saturday at Cress. Our thanks to the medical staff of the Intensive Care Unit of Meriter Hospital, and to Chaplain Keith Hirata, for their exceptional treatment, care, and compassion of Manuel during his stay there with his illness. Please share your memories. Cress Funeral Service 5801 Highway 51 McFarland, WI 53558 (608) 838-0655