Mitsuyoshi Shimada
January 18, 1924 - November 5, 2010
Obituary
Mitsuyoshi Shimada was born on January 18, 1924, in Seattle, WA and passed away on November 5, 2010, after suffering his second stroke on October 4. He was the 6th child of Masato and Sato Shimada. He attended Bailey Gatzert grade school and Garfield High School. In his youth, he played basketball in the Japanese Courier League, where many of the Nisei’s were active in multiple sports.
He was a freshman at the University of Washington when World War II broke out. After a brief stay at Minidoka internment camp, he was inducted into the Military Intelligence School MIS of the US Army, stationed in Minnesota. En route to the Philippines, the war ended and he was stationed there for a few months as an interpreter. Thereafter, he was sent to Miyazaki, Japan, where he met and married Meri Nakama.
Mits and Meri returned to Seattle, and he resumed his studies at the UW, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Chemistry. He accepted a position in 1951 as a chemist with Boeing where he stayed until his retirement in April, 1986.
Mits was a man of few words. However, when he did have something to say, he spoke intelligently, and usually with a great sense of humor and wit. He had great determination throughout his life. This was reflected early on when Mits was attending the UW, where he earned Phi Beta Kappa honors, while simultaneously holding a variety of jobs to make ends meet ending with his full time job at Boeing, raising a family, and caring for his ailing mother. Decades later, after his 1st stroke, he again showed his resolve by trying to walk again, which he was able to do for a short period of time.
He loved family. He cared not only for his wife and kids, but also for his extended family. As often happened with the families of first generation Japanese, Mits and some of his siblings were split up during childhood, some going to Japan, while others went to live with relatives in the U.S. After the war, he did a lot to get these separated siblings back together again. Today, the younger generations in the family are fortunate to know each other because of Mits’ efforts.
Mits loved to fish and was considered by many as one of the most knowledgeable and well-respected salmon fisherman in the Puget Sound area. He also loved to golf and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow golfers.
Mits is survived by his wife Meri of 63 years, children – Steve Nadine, Chris Kristi, Jon Vickie, and Cindy Lee ; 8 grandchildren – Cherise, Tera, Dana, Kelly, Kelsey, Jami, Sean, and Garren; 2 great-grandchildren – Ryan and Scarlet; and one brother – Masaharu Shimada.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Japanese Baptist Church on December 20, 2010 at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Japanese Baptist Church, Keiro Nursing Home, or Nisei Veteran’s Committee NVC .
Mits was a great neighbor to us on Beacon Hill – always helpful, friendly,generous and kind to us. We will miss him much. In our new neighborhood we will be hard pressed to find neighbors as wonderful as Meri & Mits were to us for 30 years.