OBITUARY: Kiyo Yamamoto

Kiyo Yamamoto

March 19, 1924 – March 7, 2020

YAMAMOTO, KIYO “KAY”, 95, of Oakland, CA, passed away surrounded by her family on March 7, 2020, twelve days short of her 96th birthday.

Born in Honolulu, HI she grew up in Southern California, one of six Ikeda sisters. She was the last of the surviving sisters. Kiyo, along with her family, was imprisoned at the Poston concentration camp during WWII.

Married for almost forty years, she was predeceased by her husband Paul, who died in 1984. She worked for many years for Kaiser Permanente, eventually managing the Oakland Kaiser EKG department. She kept physically active going to the gym at 5:00 am every weekday morning to exercise or swim. She took up running races as a senior and had numerous tee-shirts, medals and trophies to show for it. But her pride and joy were her four granddaughters who lived nearby and for whom she was an integral part of their lives from birth. She never missed a family event or occasion when it concerned her granddaughters, card games with grandma were always a favorite over the years. She was a wonderful role model.

She was predeceased by her sisters, Sue, Yoko, Ruth, Itsuko and Kuch and her husband Paul. She leaves her two sons Douglas and daughter-in-law Betty, and David and daughter-in-law Gail. Granddaughters Lynn, Miya, Kimi and Michi. Great grandchildren Trevor, Sophie, Audre and Cameron were fortunate to have known her. Nieces and nephews and longtime friends.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to J’Sei, where she volunteered for many years. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.