TAGUMA, NOBORU, 87, passed away peacefully at his home in West Sacramento, Calif. on March 11, 2011. A native of Broderick, Calif. who was born on April 3, 1923, he retired in the early 1990s after farming tomatoes for 45 years, mostly for Campbell’s Soup, around Clarksburg, Yolo County, Calif.

During World War II, he was one of only 300 young Nisei to resist a military draft imposed behind barbed wire, based upon constitutional principle. He stated he would gladly fight for his country if his family was released from the wartime concentration camps and his citizenship rights were restored. Once shunned by so-called “community leaders,” the resisters today are heralded for the civil rights stand they took.

He was predeceased by his parents, Iwakichi and Iwa Taguma, who immigrated from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, as well as younger sister Shizue Susie (Jack) Furutani and niece Cynthia Bruers.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 53 years, Sakaye (Yoshizawa) Taguma; daughter Masako Carol Yasue of Nagoya, Japan; son Makoto Mark (Alice) Taguma of Mountain View, Calif.; daughters Mariko Sharon (Benjamin Kam) Taguma of Union City, Calif. and Machiko Gail (Andy) Irie of Torrance, Calif.; and son Kenji Glenn Taguma of San Francisco.

He is also survived by his 10 beloved grandchildren: Kengo and Shingo Yasue of Japan, Cheryl Yoko and Kristie Akiko Taguma of Mountain View, Elise Makiko and Spencer Minoru Kam of Union City, and Lauren Mayumi, Brandon Kota, Jason Shohei and Michael Shinzo Irie of Torrance.

Surviving siblings include older sister Kiyoko Kay (Ben, deceased) Hashimoto, Bunji Bill (Michiyo) Taguma, Goichi Bob Taguma, Mutsuko Alice (Toru) Honda and Shingo George (Tokiko) Taguma. He is also survived by nephews Kay Hashimoto, Rick Taguma, Steven Taguma; nieces Yuriko Masuda, Keiko Furutani, Julie Honda-Tsuye, Joy Yamane and Kim Gold; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Final Viewing will be held on Thursday, April 7, 6 to 8 p.m., at Sacramento Memorial Lawn, 6100 Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 9, 1:30 p.m., at Sacramento Memorial Lawn, with burial to immediately follow. Reception afterwards at the Tenrikyo Sacramento Church, 6361 25th Street (at 47th Avenue) in Sacramento.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Nichi Bei Foundation, P.O. Box 15693, San Francisco, CA 94115.