Herbert Mitsuru Okamoto December 01, 1930 – December 08, 2018 Share this obituary Local Florists Send Sympathy Gifts Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Herbert Mitsuru “Mits” Okamoto, 88, died peacefully on December 8, 2018, in Los Angeles, after an active life as an outdoorsman, public servant, swing dancer, disc jockey and loving father, grandfather and friend. Herb’s advice: “If you have the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance! ” Born on December 1, 1930, in Hanna, Wyoming, Mitsuru was the sixth and youngest child of Manzo Okamoto and Tsuya Shibata Okamoto.
A teacher bestowed an “American” name Herbert in elementary school. Upon graduating from high school, he worked in the Hanna coal mines until he could enlist in the newly de-segregated Air Force in 1950. He served honorably achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant and receiving the Korean Service Medal and Stars and Presidential and National Service Defense commendations.
Herb taught electronics at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY, while earning his B.A. in Accounting from the University of Wyoming in 1958. He received his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado in 1969. Herb’s successful career with the Internal Revenue Service began in 1959 as a field agent; he retired as the Chief of Examinations in the Los Angeles District in 1982, then the highest ranking Asian American executive in the IRS.
Herb later consulted for his favorite team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and DJ’d for swing dance events in L.A., Denver, and Las Vegas. Herb passionately advocated for civil liberties and justice through the Democratic Party and Japanese American Citizens League. He studied Asian American history, helped organize the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival in Portland, Oregon in 1978, and assisted Japanese American miners and railroad workers who were fired after Pearl Harbor to receive redress.
Throughout his lifetime, he enjoyed time spent with his family and entertaining friends with music. Herb is survived by his daughter Jeri Okamoto and son David (Amy) Okamoto, stepdaughter Jeri (Darrell) DeCastro, stepsons Carl (Carole) Sutow and Glenn (Janice) Sutow, and grandchildren Lauren & Jeffrey Okamoto, Rachel & Jacquelyn Floyd, Nicole & Steven DeCastro, Leslie & Ric Sutow, nephew Kent Kuroda, and many other relatives and friends. He is predeceased by his parents and siblings Nellie Okamoto, Sadami Kuroda, Harriet Okamoto, Robert Okamoto, and Midori Nagasawa, and spouses Chiyoko Tanaka Okamoto and May Sutow Okamoto.
Herb was laid to rest on December 21 at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, following a funeral service at West Los Angeles United Methodist Church, Rev. Gary Oba officiating. In lieu of flowers, a donation to West Los Angeles UMC, the Reconciling Ministries Network, or Little Tokyo Service Center/Budokan Gym would be welcome.
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