Kazuko Sunamoto

Kazuko Sunamoto, 92, passed away peacefully in Gresham. Kazuko was born in Mosier, OR to Hinasuke and Kane Nakamoto. She was the sixth of twelve children. The family raised various crops until WWII and Executive Order 9066, which authorized evacuation of over 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans from the west coast to 10 internment camps. They were relocated to Pinedale Assembly Center, Fresno; Tule Lake Relocation Center, south of Klamath Falls; and finally Heart Mountain, WY near Cody. While in Tule Lake, Kazuko was a member of the first class to graduate from Tri-State High in 1943. Eventually the family left the internment camp and moved to Jamieson, OR where she met her future husband Katsumi Sunamoto. They were married in 1948 in Portland, OR. Along with Katsumi’s parents they began farming in Damascus, OR. They grew a wide variety of berries and vegetables. They sold the farm in 1988 and moved to Gresham. Kazuko couldn’t stay retired so she went to work for Scenic Fruit Co from 1991-2008. In 2010 she moved to Farmington Square. Kazuko was a member of numerous social and religious organizations. She was also a Trailblazer fan, an avid bowler, enjoyed mushroom hunting, clam digging, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She will always be remembered for her daily enjoyment of working hard which was amazing and inspirational to everyone. She will also be remembered for her honesty, kindness, and ability to recall who was married to whom and all their siblings, and that little grin she’d flash which had a lot of spirit behind it. Kazuko was preceded in death by her husband, Katsumi; three brothers, and five sisters. She is survived by her sons Richard (Jackie), Gresham; Don (Barbara), Omaha; granddaughter Samantha; sisters Matsuko Nishimatsu, San Jose; Beulah Kawachi, Honolulu; Frieda (Shig) Fujikawa, Beaverton; and many nieces and nephews. Thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Providence and Farmington Square. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Oregon Buddhist Temple or Ikoi no Kai. Her family will have a private service at the Temple and she will be laid to rest with her husband in Willamette National Cemetery.