Haruichi Hanemoto

Pop left today. Pop went to the Pure land after a brief 95 year stay in this land

of impermanence and change.

He was born January 30, 1919 on the family farm in Reedley, California. He

was sent to Japan to be raised by older siblings after his mother died when he was

only three years old.

Haruichi grew up in a small seaside village near Hiroshima, Japan. He returned to Reedley at age 16. He attended Great Western School and Reedley High School until he learned English.

Haruichi was many things to many people. Pop was talker. All his grandchildren would attest he would provide non-stop advice whether solicited or not. His friends sadly noted he stopped talking the last six months at their daily coffee gatherings at McDonalds.

Pop was a farmer and grew summer fruit trees and grapes on his farm.

He was a good neighbor. He would faithfully return the empty garbage cans that belonged to his neighbors in the cul de sac where he lived on garbage day.

He continued this ritual till the end of April of this year.

Pop enjoyed fishing and raising his vegetable garden and watching his bonsai trees grow very, very slowly.

He met the “light of his life” and his future bride, Kazume Nobuhiro at the Reedley Buddhist Church. A whirlwind courtship ensued followed by a fast and furious marriage hastened by the internment of Japanese citizens during the outbreak of World War II. Haruichi and Kazume knew they would be separated if they were not united as one family. They were sent to an internment camp in Poston, Arizona. They honeymooned in a one room tar paper barrack that overlooked miles of dry desert sand.

Pop and Mom would have celebrated 72 years of marriage this June 24, 2014.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Kazume Hanemoto and three children. Harvey Hanemoto and his wife Pam, June Kagawa and her husband Yoshiki and daughter Lorna Hanemoto. He is survived by three adoring grandchildren: Corey Hanemoto, Jason Kagawa and Kelly Tabay and her husband Mark. Great grandchildren Alex and newborn Andi Tabay.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, June 6, 2014 at the Reedley Buddhist Church beginning at 11:00 am