Jichan was and incredible Man, and incredible Husband, Brother, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather.

Rarely did I ever remember Jichan being angry or mad. He always had a smile on his face, or was making a joke or was doing something funny. He had a great smile, even after he started to lose his teeth. Jichan wise to always be making jokes or calling people names. I remember he would call some of us a WADABOZO. We never really knew what it meant, but he said it was supposed to be a word similar to a jokester. Well, as we all know the internet is not always 100% correct, but when I looked it up: WADA meant wadding or cotton stuffing, and BOZO meant wild boar. So basically he was calling us all stuffed pigs! Another great thing he used to say was YAKAMASHI. He used to say that was an expression to say when someone is talking too much or being too loud. I figured it just mean shut you mouth kid I'm sick of hearing you. But again I used trusty Google and its said YAKA meant fake frizzy or curly hair, and MASHI meant sake brewing.  So basically we were frizzy curly haired sake brewers.  We as of right now, I definitely have the fake frizzy curly hair, I guess I just need to work on my sake brewing. 

Jichan was a Patriarch for the family. He loved his family, and would do anything for them. He was always trying to do what he could to help his children and especially his grandchildren out. I don't know how many times he would ask when we were younger, "Do you have a job yet?', " I know some people that might have work," or "You need to get a job with the state, that's a good secure job." He was always looking out for his grandkids. When some of us would be struggling, he would be the first to offer to help out and by any means necessary.

And speaking of trying to get us all jobs...Once we all became grown-ups and found jobs of our own, he was so incredibly proud of us. Jichan would go out to coffee with his friends, or come to the church functions, and he would constantly be talking about how great his grandkids were and how proud he was of them. He would even well us...sometimes..but usually he would just tell us that we were either not eating enough, or that we had been eating too much and gaining a little weight. LOL

Jichan was dedicated, hardworking, and always had a positive attitude. It showed throughout his life. I mean none of us grandkids were there to see him in his younger years, but to hear about the struggles that his family went through, and many other Japanese families, and to come out of it with such positivity, just proved how incredible his will power was. Jichan was always working around the house, doing yard work, working in the garden, fixing things, working on cars and projects. He never slowed down, not until the very end. Not too long ago, we had to pull Jichan down from a ladder, where he was trying to prune his trees. Something the Drs told him he should never do, since he was at high risk for falling. But did that stop him? Nope! His kids had to hide all of his tools, ladders and anything that he could use to try and work, from him, so that he wasn't tempted to do work on his own.

Jichan was a fighter. And not just a boxer when he was in internment camp, but he fought to spend more days with his family than many people would. Jichan fought through cancer, and pushed on so that he could pend more years and make more memories with and for his family. He could have given up years ago, but he didn't. And each and every one of us is glad, because just one more minute spent with him, was another minute that you got to smile and enjoy life.

Jichan kew how to bring out the best in you. He could always make you smile when you felt down. His smile was contagious, and his personality was up lifting. Us grandkids are so thankful that he was in our lives, and sea are ll better people because of hime. Whether we think it or not he greatly influenced or lives, and we are better because of that. 

Jichan, that you for being a great example and showing us how a Human Being should live their life. I only hope that I can be half the Man that you were.  We will always miss you, but you will always be in our hearts. We love you so much.

Meifuku Jichan!

Walter's passing greatly saddened me.  He was a very gentle & nice person.  He was a very private person & never complained.    He will be missed.  My husband & I ran into him & his wife in Reno from time to time.  I will keep your family in prayer.

Gwen-Dr. Gowda's office

Kimiye and Family
Please accept our condolences for the passing of "Walt". The news certainly saddened our families. Truly known as a good man.
For all of us who had the good fortune to have known Walt personally will sorely miss him too. He had a perfect knack for balancing family,work and friendship. I can recall the wonderful
relationship that he and my late brother,Gene had for some many years. It had a resemblance of brotherhood. They both had adroit knowledge of auto mechanics. And if they needed a second opinion,off to good friend Rick Lopez. I can also recall that in the early 50s,Walt & Gene rented a pear ranch and farmed it after working all day at the Mehl Chevy garage.  I believe it only took them one or two years to conclude they were better auto workers than farmer!
Walt was one of a kind with his rare warmth of personality and beauty of character which will leave lasting memories upon all of us here in our community.

In Our Thoughts
Donald and Eugene Nunes' Families

I will miss Jichan more than any human will know or understand... he was kind, welcoming and one of the few baby sitters that my Mom trusted (we mostly napped all day)...  but, when we were up, he would bust out the snacks, especially at dinner time, he'd toss me the good ones from his plate (even if my Mom didn't like it), he always thought it was funny, he liked to laugh about that.   He use to ask my Mom all the time, why she didn't adopt a 2 legged baby and she would just laugh... then he'd take out his wallet, pull out a picture and always say, "someone just like this"...  then he'd look at me and ask if I knew who that was ? it was my Mom's 6th grade photo.  She would just laugh and ask him to upgrade the photo...  but, I knew, she liked it, it was his way of showing his unconditional love for his family and that she was always close to his heart.  

You'll be greatly missed and always remembered, full of love,  
Nikitarose and her pack

His actions spoke louder than words and his words were gentle and soft spoken. He was generous, helpful, and gracious.  He was a master at trimming and grafting fruit trees.  I know he was proud of his grandchildren because he would share this fact every time we met. Thank you for sharing your life and making everyone else better for it.  You will be missed.

Our deepest sympathies on your loss.  Walt was a wonderful man.  He will be greatly missed.

Tedmond Leung (Loomis, CA)
Gary Noy (Loomis, CA)

My condolences to Mrs Matsuoka and Family.
Walt was a wonderful neighbor and friend to my father, Louis Lopez.  He and Mrs Matsuoka have been wonderful neighbors.  I will miss seeing him outside and getting a smile and wave every time I drove by.

I will always remember the coffee breaks we had. And the old days we remember.

It seemed like every time I visited Jichan, he would tell the story about when I was young, I would look up at the McDonald's arches from our backyard and say "I wanna go to Donald's." He would laugh at this story every time - he was a jokester. But one thing was even more clear, he was a family man and extremely proud of his kin. He cared deeply for grandchildren and great grandchildren, even when we'd mess up his garden... which he also cared deeply for. I was honored to have him in my life, from his hard work ethic, to his joking attitude, to his words of encouragement, to his stories about internment, he really had a strong impact.

I'll miss you, Jichan. Thank you for everything.

I will always be proud to be your grandson, and very thankful that you are my Jichan. A true patriarch... I will always be able to look at you as an example of how to lead a family. Thank you Jichan. Miss you.

Jichan, Thanks for the wonderful life you gave your family. Your kids turned out to be wonderful, loving people. Your grandchildren got your artistic and musical talents. You made us laugh often and you are greatly missed. Love you lots!!

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Walter Wataru Matsuoka

7 mai 1923 – 31 janvier 2016

Chapel of the Hills

Montrez votre soutien

Envoyez Vos
Condoléances

Partager
L'avis De Décès

Obtenir les mises à jour

Prestations de Service