YOSHIO HIRANO

January 8, 1927 - October 17, 2019

Yoshio "Yosh" Hirano, 92, died on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at The Foothills Senior

Center in Simi Valley, CA.

Yosh showed great courage in his life enduring much suffering prior to his passing.

Yosh will be dearly missed by his beloved family and friends. He is survived by his

wife, Yoshi Watanabe-Hirano; children, Mike (Allison) Hirano, Joni (Richard)

Sherman, Mitchell (Stacy) Hirano; brother, Jimmy (Diane) Hara; stepchildren, Susan

(Mike) Williams, Warren (Sharon) Abe, June (Bill) Takeshita; 10 grandchildren, 5

step-grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Yosh was preceded in death by his first beloved wife and mother of 3, Hoshiko

Otoshi Hirano; his father, Kenichi Hirano; mother and stepfather, Tatsuye and Hanzo

Takesako; brothers, Kenro, Ken, Teruo "Tad" and Sumio Hirano; sister, Nancy

"Taeko" Fujikawa; and stepson, Clifford Abe.

Yosh was born on January 8, 1927, in Stockton, California. He was raised on a small

farm with his siblings in French Camp, a rural area next to Stockton, CA. During his

youth he enjoyed hunting, fishing, baseball, and Kendo. After the commencement

of WWII, Yosh(14 years old) and his family were relocated to Gila, Arizona

internment camp. He graduated from Butte High School in Gila and later served in

the U.S. Army specializing in Military Intelligence and part of the greatest generation.

Following his discharge from the Army, his family moved to Los Angeles where he

attended National Trade School and worked as an auto mechanic. He later was

certified in working as an aircraft mechanic and supervisor for several years until his

retirement. He was a highly skilled and accomplished baseball player and bowler. He

played semi-pro baseball from 1945-1947, where he earned his way onto several

major All-Star teams receiving Most Valuable Player and Leading Batter awards.

While raising his family Yosh passionately taught his children to be accomplished

athletes.

He served as Athletic Commissioner for the San Fernando Valley Japanese

Association Community Center. He was a dedicated husband and father to his

family.

He maintained a high degree of integrity and was highly trusted and

respected by all who knew him.

Yosh requested just a small service for immediate family and that his ashes be

spread in the Pacific Ocean.

www.Fukuimortuary.com (213) 626-0441