John Toshiyuki Wakisaka's Obituary
Age of Death: 84Place of Death: San Francisco VA Medical Center (Hospice – Community Living Center) 4150 Clement Street San Francisco, California 94121 Ph: (415) 221-4810Cause of Death: Battled with Prostrate Cancer since 1997.Born July 30, 1930, Lockeford, California (Kibei-Nisei: Born in U.S.A & Raised in Japan) Parents: Sanaemon & Shizuno WakisakaLife Story: – Grew up as a child in Hiroshima, Japan in the outskirt town of Kabe-Cho to a prominent family & farmland owners/horse(s) care & boarding. Survived the war between the U.S. & Japan and Atomic Bomb during High School on his way to start his first job in the city. The train was delayed arriving at the station that early morning prior to heading into the inner-city of Hiroshima, 45-50 miles away. – Returned to the States after World War II, worked & went to night school to learn English in San Francisco and also worked the farmlands in Salinas during the summers. Drafted shortly then by the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Ord, Monterey, and deployed to fight against the North Koreans, during the Korean War, as a Tank Surveillance & Reconnocense Scout. – Discharged after the war with honor and returned to Japan and married my biological mother, Yurie Ishii. – Left Japan to start a new life and family in Los Angeles, California where son Kenneth T. Wakisaka was born in Santa Monica, California on March 4, 1956. – Wife, Yurie stricken with illness and passed away in 1967. Met & later married Yuriko Fujimori, where they worked together at the Hokubei Mainichi Newspaper Company aka: the ‘North American & Community Japanese American Daily Newspaper’, as the head Advertising Manager. Lived in the heart of San Francisco’s Japan Town and a short walk across Geary Street’s Pedestrian overpass to & from work for 37-years (did not need the use of a car to commute). – Enjoyed riding race horses in his earlier years, driving/ maintaining & working on American cars, Member of the Japanese Shigin Folk Singing group of San Francisco & liked to Karaoke. Also active member of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco, performed magic tricks after service, and was often called the ‘Magic Man’ at church. – Resided happily, at present home for 44-years on 1420 Webster Street, #6, San Francisco, California 94115.Family: – Survived by only child and son, Kenneth Wakisaka and Daughter In-law, Roberta Wakisaka-Fellezs – Survived by current wife Yuriko Wakisaka with Daughter In-Laws Juliet and Mercy – Brother to 3-Surviving Sisters: o Hanako Goto married to Charlie Goto with Sons/Nephew Mark, Eddie & Daughter/Niece Joy o Ayako (Betty) Iwami & Ayame (Ruby) Izuoka
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