Kenneth Kenichi Hanaki was born on April 21st, 1939 in San Francisco, California and passed away peacefully on July 12th, 2020 in his Boulder City home. Ken was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who was always optimistic, easily smiled and laughed, and gave generously of his time to family, friends and the community. His career as a civil engineer made lasting impacts across the country but he was most proud of his family, his Japanese-American heritage, ability to tell a good joke and story, and lasting contributions he made to his community.
Shortly after his birth, the United States entered World War II and his family were among the 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent who were forcibly removed from their homes and interned in relocation camps. Ken spent his early years in the Tule Lake internment camp and after WWII ended, his family moved to Shizuoka, Japan to help rebuild the country. Racked with hardships and poverty, Ken returned to the US when he was 15 years old and finished his education at San Mateo High School in California.
Ken went on to study civil engineering at San Jose State, while practicing Judo, joining Army ROTC, and courting his future wife and love of his life, Lois. 1965 was a big year for Ken - he married Lois, graduated with his Civil Engineering degree, and was commissioned into the US Army as an officer. Designated as a Field Maintenance Officer, he deployed to Southeast Asia to support the Vietnam War. With his military service obligation fulfilled, Ken returned back to California and started his professional civil engineer career.
Ken left his mark all across the United States. He designed bridges for the California highway system, worked the Alaskan oil pipeline project, and designed new Metro stations in Washington DC. As a civil engineer for the National Park Service he spent thirty years working across the country designing and restoring buildings such as the USS Cairo museum at Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, MS, the Booker T Washington home in Tuskegee, AL, and numerous structures in Lake Mead National Recreation Center in Boulder City, NV and Gateway East National Park in New York City, NY.
Ken always enjoyed meeting new people, learning different skills, telling great stories and jokes, and taking the lead when needed. He loved coaching boys and girls soccer and coached the 1985 Boulder City United boys’ youth soccer team to the Las Vegas championships. He continued coaching and refereeing in New York City well after his children had graduated and left the house. He selflessly gave his time to the community as a Boulder City volunteer firefighter and paramedic (served as the president in 1985), night DJ at the local BC radio station, Boy Scouts leader in Mississippi and Nevada, Sunday school teacher, Toastmasters member, and performer in local theater groups.
Ken retired to Boulder City where he spent a happy retirement pursuing his love of golf, traveling, and enjoying good food with good company. He relished life by spending time with his family, building things at home, and traveling extensively around the world. He spent his last years enjoying life with Lois, his wife of over 55 years, dancing, playing tennis and pickleball, and learning boxing. He is survived by Lois, children Bryan, Katherine, and Samuel, and his eight beautiful grandchildren.
If desired, memorial gifts may be donated in Ken’s name to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Neurology - Movement Disorder Program online at giving.ucla.edu/hanaki. Ken battled Parkinson’s disease for over a decade. The UCLA Neurology department doctors were amazingly helpful to Ken and Lois through the challenges of living with and battling Parkinson’s disease.
Due to the COVID-19 and government restrictions, Ken will be laid to rest privately with his family at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, where he will be honored for his service. His family will hold a Celebration of Life event for Ken at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Hanaki family.
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