Ken passed away on June 20, 2025 at the age of 93. He leaves behind his wife Michiko; daughter Debbie (Rois); sons Gary (Leva) and Kevin; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Born in Steveston, BC, Ken was the youngest of four and was predeceased by his three older sisters.
In high school, Ken played basketball and baseball at the highest level. In 2013, his team - the Kamloops Nisei Athletic Club (KNAC), eventually known as the North Kamloops Mohawks - was inducted into the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame. Some of his memorabilia has been donated to Nikkei Heritage Museum and Cultural Centre. Ken passed on his love of sports, coaching his sons in baseball, a tradition that continued with his youngest grandson.
Ken met Michiko in high school in Kamloops when they were paired up as two “singles” at a school dance. They started dating soon after and four years later married in a fall wedding and eventually settled in Burnaby.
Ken built a successful career that took him across Asia. He was proud of those years and often spoke fondly of his travels, especially to Japan, Indonesia and Thailand.
His grandkids will always remember their Grampa, Gramps, Bumpa, and Bumps (a man of many nicknames!) as their biggest supporter, always there to cheer them on at the ball field, hockey rink, gymnastics gym, and dance studios. They can’t count the number of kilometres he drove them to and from practices, games, competitions and recitals.
Ken and Michiko shared 68 years of marriage, raising their kids and grandkids and later enjoying playtime with their great grandkids. They enjoyed travels together on cruises and visits to Japan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Burnaby Hospital Foundation or the Nikkei Place Foundation.
