Yoshiko Rose Nakagawa

Rose, a woman of peace, went peacefully on Thursday, February 28, 2013. She was born on her Dad's dairy farm in Auburn, Wa. on May 7, 1915. Rose was the ninth sibling of eleven children. Rose, born of royalty was very proud of her Samurai roots. Her Mother instilled the importance of Japanese arts of shamisen/biwa (classical string instruments), shigin (classical poetry reading), the Sogetsu School of Ikebana (flower arrangement), Kendo, and cooking.

Her Mother had a restaurant, Matsuno Zushi in Fresno, and her Father opened a general store across the street.

She married star athlete Toshio Dyna Nakagawa in 1936 and soon after had their daughter Janie. Rose was interned with her parents at the Fresno Assembly Center, Jerome, Arkansas and Rohwer Concentration Camps. After the war, she and Dyna opened Tom and Rosie's Pool Hall in Fowler.

In 1954, her son Kerry Yo was born. She was very active with the Fowler Buddhist Church, her family, community, and friends. Her passions were cooking, enhancing her arts, traveling, and reading two books at a time.

She is survived by her sisters Alyce Nakagawa and Mae Matsumoto; her daughter, Janie Yuen and her husband Ken; her son, Kerry Yo and his wife Jeri Nakagawa; grandchildren, Damon and his wife Cindy Yuen, Kale and his wife Katie and Jenna Nakagawa;, great-grandchildren, Miki and Jade Yuen.

A Memorial Service and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at the Fowler Buddhist Church.