After having pneumonia, James Miyamoto passed away in Everett, WA on May 2, 2018, almost making it to his 97th birthday. Jim was born in Los Angeles, lost his father at 7, attended parochial school at Maryknoll, and graduated from Lincoln HS in 1938. He was a Nisei, 2nd generation Japanese-American, so his family was interned at Manzanar in 1942. He was drafted into the US Army and served with distinction in France and Italy as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. After the war, he married Asako (Amy) in Idaho Falls and moved back to Southern California, where they raised their family and lived for 40 years before moving to Mill Creek, WA to be closer to family.
Jim worked as an autobody repairman. He was fiercely independent, loveable, and courageous. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, and golfing with his buddies, Harry and Casey. Jim and Amy were active in many organizations, especially the Southeast Japanese School & Community Center, for which he built items that are still being used today. He was friendly to everyone and loved to talk about his family and his life stories, which were considerable. When he moved to senior residence in Mill Creek, he quickly became a favorite of the residents and staff. You could always find him at “happy hour” on Thurs.
Jim was preceded in death by his brother Frank and is survived by his sister Aiko; son David and wife Terri; son Bob and wife Deanna; daughter Suzanne; grand-daughters, Katy, Tamra, and Leah; great grand-daughters, Eleanor and Phoebe. Please raise a final glass of vodka in his honor.
A memorial service took place Monday, May 14th, 2018 11:00 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church at in Bothell, Washington. Graveside services will take place at Fielding Memorial Cemetery, Monday, July 16, 2018 at 10:30 am. He’ll be buried next to Asako.
The family suggests donations to: The Southeast Japanese School & Community Center CA https://www.sejscc.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.sejscc.org/; St Francis Xavier Chapel - Japanese Catholic Center (formerly Maryknoll https://www.sejscc.org/; or the Nisei Veteran’s Committee (http://www.nvcfoundation.org/)
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