Toshio Taniguchi
January 2, 1921 - December 14, 2012
Obituary
Tosh passed away at the age of 91 on December 14, 2012. He was born in Seattle on January 2, 1921 to Shyotaro and Sae Taniguchi. He graduated from Broadway High School in 1938. During WWII he was incarcerated at Minidoka, ID along with many others of Japanese descent. He married his wife of 70 years, Lois Tanabe, in Minidoka. He volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) Burma Theater.
After the war he relocated his family to Oak Park, IL and moved back to Seattle in 1952. Tosh worked for many years as a watch maker and then for the Pay’nSave Corporation, retiring as the Lumber Manager for all of the Ernst Hardware stores. Tosh enjoyed almost 30 years of retirement playing golf, bowling and traveling the world.
Tosh was a lifetime member of the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC), the Betsuin Buddhist Church and the Seattle Kumamoto Kenjinkai. In January 2012, he received the Congressional Gold Medal for his service during WWII.
Tosh is survived by his wife Lois and children Brenda (Joe) Matsudaira, Susan Jahromi, Steve (Nanette) Taniguchi, Debra Taniguchi, 5 grandchildren, 1 great-granddaughter and sisters Sue Ninomura and Yoshi Yamada.
Per his request, a private family memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on February 1st at Bonney Watson Funeral Home, 1732 Broadway, Seattle 98122.
Remembrances to:
Nisei Veterans Committee
1212 So. King St.
Seattle, WA 98144
Kokoro Kai
700 6th Ave. So.
Seattle, WA 98109
We send our condolences to a loving, giving, and cherished man. Tosh always made time to visit, make conversation, and share jokes. We will miss him, and will remember his smile and gentleness.
Lovingly,
The Pasion Family
To Steve, Debbie and family,
My condolences to all of you. You must have been so proud of your father.