Yoshiko Iwatake Nakai passed away January 23, 1998.
She was born on September 8, 1902, in Hiroshima, Japan. Orphaned at a young age, she dropped out of school to care for her two younger brothers working as a telegraph operator. She emigrated to the United States when she was 20. She married Kanesaburo Nakai and they lived in Los Angeles until the outbreak of World War II. The family was sent to Amache Internment Camp in Colorado for the duration of the war.Yoshiko was one of two tailoring instructors in the camp and continued with that occupation when she moved to Salt Lake City in 1945. She founded a small sewing school in downtown Salt Lake in the historic Brooks Arcade Building which continued for many years.
She was an avid oil painter, traveler, knitter and gardener and continued these hobbies until late in life. She was a dedicated member of the Salt Lake Buddhist Church and was the recipient of the first annual Dharma Award from that organization. She was a member of the Hiroshima Denjinkai, JACL, and Fujinkai. She became a citizen of the United States in 1954 and took numerous English classes to increase her knowledge of her adopted country.
Yoshiko is survived by two brothers, Zentatsu Iwatake of Hiroshima, Japan, and Bukkai Temporin of Tokyo, Japan; a son, George Nakai; a daughter, Lily Havey; four grandchildren, Richard, Kenny, Tab and Michael; and one great-grandchild, Autumn Nicole.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 28 at 1 p.m. at the Buddhist Church. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the funeral. A private burial will be held on Thursday at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In place of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Salt Lake Buddhist Church Building Fund, 211 West 100 South Street, SLC, Utah 84101. The family extends its gratitude to the staff and residents of Friendship Manor for their love and caring and to the staff at Willow Wood Care Center for their understanding and support.
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