James Isamu Yamamoto

Memories of Our Dad, most of you know my dad as a hard-working, honest, caring and kind person. Hard-working as he held down 2 jobs as we were growing up. He was the eldest son working the 20 acre farm and after getting married and starting a family, he got his second job working at the post office full time. Growing up I used to think of my dad as a quiet person since we would usually just see him at dinner. Later, observing him at various function, I would see him with the other men drinking, laughing and talking a lot! He actually was quite the public speaker, wanting everyone to quiet down to get their attention then usually saying a few words of thanks and gratitude. He was a productive, knowledgeable farmer. We have a girlfriend who mentioned that one of their family traditions each year was to look for my dad's table grapes or raisins at the Lone Star booth at the Fresno Fair. And, yes, he would have blue ribbons! Our dad was a very honest man who would not lie or cheat. I can remember going to the Fresno Fair and different theme parks where we would tell him to lie about our ages because we were smaller and we didn't look our age. He would never do that. Jun Tamara, a good friend of my dad who isn't able to be here today, said his daughter remembered Daddy as the “race man” at the Lone Star picnic. That was an event that he organized every year, and every runner was a winner and got a prize. Our dad loved to fish, and Tyler remembers fishing with him as a 10 year old. Gramps would snag or catch the fish on the hook, hand the pole over to Tyler, and let him reel it in. Talk about a nice grandpa! There were adventurous days as a young man when he, Hajime, my uncles, and Kaker Hara would water ski in the ditch on our property being dragged along with a car that ran along side of the ditch. There were days in wetsuits with cut-up, frozen hands as they hunted abalone in Cayucas, usually getting their limits. As our dad's vision got worse during the last decade of his life, fishing became more challenging. Fishing for striped bass was easier with several poles in holders on Jun's fishing boat. The fish would bite, get snagged, then be reeled in. Since Daddy couldn't see the poles move, he would have to hold his pole losing a lot of fish since he'd feel a little tug and jerk the pole too soon. Jun said he finally caught a bass, and it was called the “2 year bass” because it took Daddy two years to catch a bass! Our dad and mom continued their adventures by taking cruises and trips after he retired at 55 years old with their friends. They were fortunate to travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Japan, and parts of the United States. Our dad was kind. My mom and dad had many friends and as their friends aged or were in various assisted-living facilities, they would visit them and take them fruit. Twice a year they would travel to the Bay area to drop off fruit to all the relatives there. Again, they would travel to the LA area to deliver fruit to their friends and relatives there. He was a kind man whether it was to the farm workers who picked our grapes; to the employees at the post office who would get permission from him as the supervisor to leave work early to take care of a sick family member when they had no sick leave left; to a girlfriend of mine with a flat tire who needed help in front of our house; to family and friends who needed eulogies read at funerals and memorials; to organizing annual Gila River Reunions to keep friendships strong; to hospital staff who helped him after a broken hip, after a stroke, and during hospice. To his family, he was a constant, always there, always patient, supported and interested. Pretty much blind and in his 80s, he would volunteer to come out and prune my 4 peach trees for me. He was always at weddings, at anniversary parties, at birthday parties, and at all holidays. He never missed a fun time! He loved ballroom dancing with our mom and the Fowler Dance group. As his vision decreased and so did the male dancers, Mr. Teraoka, their dance instructor, told me the ladies would line up to dance with him as everyone had to have a turn to dance. He was always there to dance with my mom, after the broken hip, after the stroke, and singing during his rehab days and during his hospice days in bed – Christmas songs, patriotic songs, and love songs. So, our dad is no longer bound by his hospice bed, by the drugs which diminished his instincts to keep working hard, to keep fixing equipment, to take of things, and to take care of us. He is at peace, he is fishing, he is giving speeches, dancing, singing, and possibly flying up to see Mars. We'll see you on Mars, Daddy!!

James Isamu Yamamoto passed away peacefully at home on June 13, 2017. Shizuko (Yokomizo), his wife of 65 years was by his side. In addition to Shizuko, James is survived by their four daughters, Kathryn of Sanger, Anne (Bryan Polster) of Los Altos Hills, Nancy of Clovis and Beverly (David Hickman) of El Dorado Hills. He was the proud grandfather of eight: Tyler McMoto (Amanda McMoto) ; Laura, Emma and Camille Polster; Caroline and Robert Culpepper; and Matthew and Jennifer Hickman; and one great granddaughter, Mila McMoto. James was born in Fresno, California on November 22, 1926 to Haruo Tatusmura Yamamoto and Tsuruzo Yamamoto. He was the third of five children and was preceded in death by his parents as well as brothers, Ben, Frank and George, and sister Dorothy Kunishige. James lived his entire life on the farm his father purchased in 1912 after immigrating to California from Japan. James was truly a lifelong farmer. After his father passed away when James was only nine, he and his siblings helped their mother farm berries and vegetables. Later the family planted grape vines, at varying times producing raisins, wine grapes and table grapes. In addition to farming, James had a long successful career with the US Postal Service. He began his career as a mail carrier and eventually rose to be the manager of the Cardwell Station in Fresno. After retiring, James and Shizuko enjoyed spending time with family, traveling and ballroom dancing. James also held leadership roles with the Fresno Buddhist Church, and is currently a member of the Fowler Buddhist Church.

A private memorial service will be held at Lisle Funeral Home at 1:30 on Saturday, June 17. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in James’ memory to: Hinds Hospice of Fresno, Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Palo Alto) or Valley Center for the Blind (Fresno).