Yuzo Ugaki

YUZO UGAKI IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Yuzo Ugaki, 82, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by loved ones, in the early morning hours of Friday, April 11, 2008. Yuzo was a lifelong resident of Southeastern Idaho. He was born in Rexburg, Idaho, on January 31, 1926, and was the fourth child of Gisaku “George” Ugaki and Hisano Akiyama Ugaki. He attended elementary and junior high in the Sugar City area and graduated from Sugar-Salem High School one year early by combining his junior and senior year classes. His two older brothers had been inducted into the service during World War II, so Yuzo needed to do everything possible to finish high school early to help support his mother and five younger siblings with the family farm. His strong work ethic developed early in life on the family farm. He and his family would wake up before dawn to milk and feed their dairy cows, pump and haul water, and clean the stalls before walking three miles to attend school. This strong work ethic continued when he began farming on his own in 1951 on 200 acres of virgin ground west of Blackfoot that was initially covered with sagebrush. Yuzo continued farming until he met and married the love of his life, Waka Nakayama. Their parents were close friends, and Yuzo and Waka began their lifelong relationship as “pen pals.” Waka was living in Okayama, Japan, at the time, and they wrote to each other for about a year before Yuzo flew to Japan to meet her in person. It was love at first sight, and after a two-month courtship in Japan, they were married on November 24, 1962, in Okayama, Japan. They had been married for over 45 years. After Yuzo and Waka were married, they returned to Blackfoot, Idaho, and started a family and a new business. Through hard work, sacrifice and perseverance, the two of them built the Town & Country Mobile Home Park into a successful business. Yuzo was a devoted father to his three children and worked hard to ensure that his kids did not have to face the same hardships he had experienced. His proudest achievements were creating a close-knit family and watching all three of his children receive advanced university degrees. Yuzo had a zest for life that was infectious. He could always be found surrounded by people with a smile on his face. Even in his final days, he still kept his sharp wit and inner strength. In his younger days, he loved spending time with his family going fishing, camping and traveling. In his later years, Yuzo developed a passion for cooking and baking, and found great joy in making his “secret-recipe” cake for friends and family. He always had a love of sports and was an avid high school basketball and Utah Jazz fan. He was an active member of the Japanese-American Citizens League and was a long-time member of the Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include his wife, Waka Ugaki of Idaho Falls, ID; two daughters, Karen (Karl) Sandmann of Burley, ID, and Janice (Doug Greally) Ugaki of Idaho Falls, ID; one son, Steven Ugaki of Blackfoot, ID; four grandchildren, Kimberly and Avilyn Sandmann, and Emma and Connor Greally; two brothers, Kenji Ugaki of Blackfoot, ID and Jack Ugaki of Idaho Falls, ID; and three sisters, Sekiko “Ruby” Ouye of Berkeley, CA, Fumiko “Mick” Nukaya of Idaho Falls, ID, and Takako Nukaya of Idaho Falls, ID. He was preceded in death by his parents Gisaku “George” Ugaki and Hisano Ugaki, and two brothers, Yoshi Ugaki and Tomi Ugaki. The family would like to thank all of the many friends and relatives for their support, love and fond memories of Yuzo that they have shared throughout his hospitalization and last few months at home. Heartfelt appreciation also goes out to the doctors, nurses and other health care providers at Aspen Home Health & Hospice, Lifestyle Homecare, Western Visiting Nurses, Idaho Kidney Center, Gem State Dialysis, Idaho Heart Institute, and EIRMC who kept Yuzo smiling throughout it all. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Wood Funeral Home East Side Chapel, 963 S. Ammon Road in Idaho Falls, with Reverend Darcy Gritzmacher of the Burley United Methodist Church officiating. The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 16th and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday before services, both at Wood Funeral Home East Side Chapel. Cremation will take place following the service, and a private, family graveside service will be held at a later day at Fielding Memorial Park in Idaho Falls. ----------------------------------- Condolences received online: Kim, RN I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I just wanted to tell you all that you are one of the kindest families I have ever met. Thank you for letting me share a small part of your lives. Best wishes in all you do. Barbara Rounds I am very sorry to hear about Yuzo. He was a longtime friend of my Father's. He will greatly be missed. I am truly sorry I am unable to attend his funeral, as you know, I just returned from my father's funeral.May God Bless them both. My deepest sympathies to you and your families.. Sincerely, Barbara (Nii) Rounds and the Shig Nii Families Bob Riplinger Please accept my condolences. Unfortunately, I only knew him from Dialysis, but always enjoyed our chats. I wish I could have known him in the real world. My prayers are with him and his family.