Herbert Setsuo Tanaka

Monterey ~ Herbert Setsuo Tanaka, a Monterey native and life-long resident, passed away at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. During World War II, the Tanaka family was interned at the Amache Relocation Camp in Colorado. At the conclusion of the war, they returned to Monterey moving to Gilroy a short time later where Herb graduated from Gilroy High school in 1957.

Following graduation, Herb joined the US Air Force. After being transferred to Travis Air Force Base, he married his high school sweetheart, Shizuko (Susie) Teramoto. After his military service, Herb returned to Monterey and was employed by Del Monte Properties for approximately eight years. His passion for gardening led him to become a self-employed gardener for over 40 years until his retirement two years ago.

Herb was affiliated with the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple, Japanese American Citizens League of Monterey and the Monterey Peninsula Nisei Memorial Post 1629 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He will always be remembered for his generosity, handyman skills, and assisting his family and friends. Herb’s love for fishing took him into the High Sierras where he, his wife, and his friends would go trout fishing. Of course, they would sometimes take a detour into Reno to do a little gambling before returning home to Monterey.

Herb is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 53 years, Shizuko “Susie”; his children, Randy Tanaka of Las Vegas, NV, and Cindy (Ernest) Cortes of San Jose, CA, and four grandchildren, Travis and Lisa Tanaka and Melissa and Laura Cortes. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Ann Tanaka; four brothers Leonard (Akiko) Tanaka, Arthur (Mihoko) Tanaka, Norman (Alice) Tanaka and Roy (Donna) Oku; cousins, Yumiko (Yasuo) Sakaguchi, Fumiyo (Virgil) Katsuyama and Sachiko (Bob) Uyematsu and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind relatives in Japan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ryuzo and Yoneko Tanaka, and brother, Masaji Tanaka.

A funeral service will be held at 3 PM on Friday, July 19th at the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple, 1155 Noche Buena Street, Seaside, CA. Burial will take place at 10 AM on Saturday July 20th at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park in Gilroy.