Uncle Kunio

On our way down to LA for the Tigers Tournament, I received a call from my brother that our Uncle passed away. He lived next door to us growing up...we would have to show our report cards to him ... Preferably before our parents...I remember staying with my grandmother after my grandfather died. My uncle who lived with them, let me stay up late...I remember him counting the number of hours of sleep I would get if I stayed up until 9..."okay, you will still get 9 hours of sleep if you get up at 6." little did he know, I really needed 11-12...or lately more...

Below is his obituary that my brothers wrote, and I edited...tee hee...



Kunio Ikeda, 83, of Salinas, passed away Friday, May 27, 2011, after a short hospitalization.

Born in Gardena, California on July 29, 1927, Kunio moved to Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan with his family in 1936. Due to the war, the family was separated and he graduated from Kajiki High School in Japan. He was unable to rejoin his family until 1951 at the age of 24.

Kunio moved to Salinas and helped run the family business, Ikeda Farms. Following the death of his parents, Yeizo and Satsu, Kunio continued farming with his brothers, Isamu and Don. He was active with the farm until his death.

In addition to farming, Kunio was an avid fan of sumo and a member of the Buddhist Temple of Salinas, Kagoshima Kenjinkai, and the Salinas Valley Japanese American Citizen League (JACL). In recent years he has enjoyed spending time with his close friend, Kazuko Piacentino.

Kunio is survived by a sister, Atsuko (Jack) Obata of Gilroy; brothers, Sam and Don of Salinas.

He was preceded in death by brother, Hiroshi and sisters-in-law, Yoshiko and Joyce.

His family also included a number of nephews and nieces - Alan (Kevin Heath) Obata of Gilroy, Teri (Tom) Hinmon of Gilroy, Yuko (Tom) Ohe of Sunnyvale, Reiko Ikeda of Salinas, Dean Ikeda of Salinas, Sheri (Jeffrey) Minamide of Fremont, Gary Ikeda of Sunnyvale, and Dave (Shizuka) Ikeda of Alameda.

Memorial service will be held Saturday, June 25, 2011, at 4 p.m., at the Buddhist Temple of Salinas, 14 California St., Salinas, CA 93901.

Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Chapel.

Online condolences: www.struveandlaporte.com


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad