Kiyono Maekawa , April 25, 1914 — November 25, 2018

OBITUARY Kiyono MAEKAWA April 25, 1914 – November 25, 2018 Kiyono “Kiyo” Maekawa passed away peacefully at Overlake Terrace with family at her side on November 25, 2018. In April, she had celebrated her 104th birthday with family. Kiyo, a Nisei, a second generation Japanese American, was born in Sumner, WA on April 25, 1914 and was a long time resident of Auburn, WA.

During WWII, Kiyo and family were sent to internment camps. To the Pinedale Assembly Center, then Tule Lake and in 1943 to Minidoka. In the spring of 1944, Kiyo and family left Minidoka for Nyssa, OR where she and husband worked on the Hashitani farm.

In the initial relocation to Pinedale, Kiyo alone was left in charge of her family and farm as her husband had previously been confined immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor and sent to a detention center at Missoula, MT. On Christmas day 1945, Kiyo and family left Nyssa and returned to Auburn where they owned and operated a truck farm until retirement in 1978 to Kent. Kiyo was outgoing with a positive attitude, cheerful, easily made friends and was an inspiration to many.

She loved to cook, bake and decorate cakes, enjoyed ikebana and making crafts of all sorts, a razor clam digger, a matsutake mushroom hunter and a pick-up truck camper. She is survived by daughter Nina (Yick) Chinn, son Don (Kiyo) Maekawa, daughter-in-law Sanaye Maekawa, 9 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Zentaro “Tom” Maekawa, son William K. Maekawa, grandson Scot Maekawa and Sisters Kimi Mizuta and Chie Onchi.

Kiyo’s greatest love was her children and being “Bachan” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She hosted many family dinners and loved extended family picnics and family reunions. She will be dearly missed but leaves wonderful memories.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 AM, January 15, at the White River Buddhist Temple, 3625 Auburn Way N. Auburn, WA. Remembrances in Kiyo’s name may be made to the White River Buddhist Temple, PO Box 855, Auburn 98002.

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