Obituary

Our mighty oak, Kenichi J. Takaki, of Chicago, IL, 84, passed at home on 2/20/2010. This MIS Nisei WWII vet fought the good fight against stomach cancer with the motivating background music of marching bands and cadence CDs for 5 months. It was appropriate that his last breath was during the playing of
Taps. He is a survivor of Topaz internment camp and voluntarily enlisted in the US Army to provide his love and loyalty for his country and commitment to freedom. His army days were the highlight of his life and source of pride, remaining a member of the American Legion 1183 Nisei chapter and attending Nisei Vet reunions in Las Vegas. His loyalty carried over to his work place of 41 years, at John F. Sexton & Co. He was generous and thoughtful to family and friends, had a fine singing voice (surprised us all on their 60th anniversary by serenading his wife with the love song, “More”), and took speeches to a new level! He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eiko, family, and many friends. A funeral mass will take place at St. Gertrude Church, 1420 W. Granville Ave., on Saturday, February 27th at 2:00 pm. Ken had requested that moneys normally spent on flowers be used as donations to one’s favorite charity.