Obituaries for Sunday, November 13, 2022
Earl Tsugio Miyao
Earl Tsugio Miyao
Earl Tsugio Miyao passed away on Sept. 1, 2022, at his residence in Lawa‘i, at the age of 70. He was born on Feb. 6, 1952, in Lihu‘e. He was retired.
He was preceded in death by parents Nichi Miyao and Pansy Miyao, brother Warren Miyao, sister Helene Tada and nephew Delrick Tada.
He is survived by niece Melanie (Tyrus) Matsumoto of Lihu‘e, grand-nephew Kristian Matsumoto of Lihu‘e, brother Winston (Marian) Ogata of Lihu‘e, and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A service is Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Garden Island Mortuary. Visitation is from 2 to 3:30 p.m. followed by service at 3:30 p.m.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Charles Joseph Silva Sr.
Charles Joseph Silva Sr. passed away on Oct. 28, 2022, in Kalaheo at the age of 90. He was born on Sept. 1, 1932, in Makaweli. He was a retired cultivation superintendent for McBryde Sugar Company.
He was preceded in death by wife Lillian Muraoka Silva, parents Louis and Minnie Pavao Silva, brothers Paul (Helen) Silva, William (Alice) Silva and Louis (Emily) Silva, brothers-in-law Alfred Hart and Takeo Okuno, and sons-in-law Rudy Alao and Errol Lanning.
He is survived by son Charles (Della) Silva Jr. of Koloa, daughters Carolyn (Ronnie) Dotario of Kalaheo, Marilyn Alao of Kalaheo, Theresa (George) Castillo of Kohala, Hawai‘i Island, Bonnie Lanning of Hanapepe and Lynn (Teddy) Perreira of Kalaheo, sister Caroline Hart of Honoka‘a, Hawai‘i Island, sister-in-law Elethia Okuno of ‘Oma‘o, caregivers Leilani and Kahena Cox, 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A service is Friday, Nov. 18, at Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo. Visitation with family is from 9 to 10 a.m. followed by Mass at 10 a.m.
Special thanks to the staff at Kaua‘i Hospice.
The family suggests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted.
Eileen Meu Lin Chai Miyasato
Eileen Meu Lin Chai Miyasato, 77, of Lihu‘e, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 25, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born on Sept. 24, 1945, in Kailua, O‘ahu. She was a dressmaker for over 50 years and a sewing instructor for over 30 years. She ran a sewing school called Aunty Eileen’s Sewing School in Lihu‘e. She was an active member of Kaua‘i Bible Church in ‘Oma‘o.
She was preceded in death by parents James and Beatrice Chai.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years Barry Miyasato of Lihu‘e, sons David (Estelle) Miyasato, Daniel (Kristi) Miyasato and Darryl (Reiko) Miyasato, six grandchildren, sisters Elizabeth Au and Eleanor Chang, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A celebration of life is Friday, Nov 18, at Kaua‘i Veterans Center, with visitation at 1:30 p.m. and service at 3 p.m.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Shirley Iha
Shirley Iha, a resident of Lihu‘e, passed away on Nov. 2, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Lihu‘e on Nov. 9, 1940, to Masayuki and Tamie Higashi.
She attended Lihu‘e Grammar School, Kaua‘i High School and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, where she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a fifth-year teaching certificate. She taught for two years with the Lowell School District in La Habra, California. She then returned to Hawai‘i and was part of the team that opened the new Palisades Elementary School in Pearl City.
When she moved back to Kaua‘i in 1970, she was a stay-at-home mom. She was busy raising her two sons, Douglas and Derek, shuttling them to swim, Pop Warner Football, Little League Baseball, tennis, basketball, music lessons and church events.
Later, she returned to elementary education at Wilcox School, serving as a tutor for students in speech therapy. She retired from the state Department of Education after 20 years of service. She developed many long-lasting relationships in education including being a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Eta Chapter, and the Kaua‘i Retired Teachers Association. She looked forward to monthly breakfasts with a group of retired Wilcox School teachers called the “Breakfast Club.”
She also served for many years on the board of Waioli Corporation/Grove Farm Homestead, the entities whose mission is to preserve the sugar plantation history and the home of G.N. Wilcox, the former owner of Grove Farm.
Her passion for music fueled her lifelong love of sharing music with others. She first took piano lessons in grade school from Mr. Matsuda. After a few years of lessons, she continued her own musical journey. She served as an accompanist in two children’s choirs — Kalihi Union Church and Kaua‘i Association of the United Church of Christ with children’s music minister Mel Gallagher. She was also an active participant with The Kaua‘i Chorale from its early beginnings. She joined the alto section and served as president and a board member at different times during her more than 40 years with the Kauai Chorale.
During that time, she also used her musical gift at her beloved church home, Lihu‘e Christian Church. She served as organist and pianist for more than 40 years at Lihu‘e Christian Church, providing musical accompaniment for worship services, the church choir, the worship team, marriages, funerals and islandwide gatherings. She also enjoyed hosting the small group ministry at her home. She made many deep and lasting friendships at church.
One of her greatest musical joys was teaching piano to young people. At the request of several friends, she began to give piano lessons to their children. She taught piano to more than 100 children over more than 35 years. Her music lessons continued until the pandemic prevented in-person lessons.
Throughout her long and blessed life, her love of family, music, Jesus and Lihu‘e Christian Church never dimmed. She was a gentle and kind soul who shared her light with many. She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.
She was preceded in her death by her parents, Masayuki and Tamie Higashi, and a daughter who died at birth.
She is survived by her husband, David, and her two sons, Douglas (Michelle) Iha of Germantown, Illinois, and Derek (Sarah) Iha of Lihu‘e, grandchildren Ben Mills, Lucas Mills Iha, Ethan Iha and Hailey Iha, great-grandchildren Jameson and Raphael Mills, sister Elaine (Spencer, deceased) Tada and her brother Michael Higashi.
Services are at Lihu‘e Christian Church on Saturday, Nov. 26. Visitation with the family begins at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers and koden, donations may be made in her honor to Lihu‘e Christian Church, The Kaua‘i Chorale, or David and Shirley Iha’s scholarship at Kaua‘i Community College.
James Villaros Jr.
James Villaros Jr., 62, of Kalaheo, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retiree, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Las Vegas.
He was preceded in death by parents Sarah and James Villaros Sr.
He is survived by daughter Janina Cazimero-Villaros of Nevada, stepdaughters Jaimie Perez of Texas, Julia Makua of Michigan and Melissa Makua of Florida, seven grandchildren, and many cousins.
Sueko ‘Sue’ Ishiguro Nakatsuka
Sueko “Sue” Ishiguro Nakatsuka, 96, of Honolulu, former resident of Koloa, passed away peacefully on Nov. 4, 2022. She moved to a care facility in Honolulu from Kaua‘i in 2018.
She was preceded in death by husband of over 60 years, Hisashi “Hisa” Nakatsuka, who passed away on Kaua‘i in 2013.
She is survived by sisters Hinako Oda and Yoshie Tanabe, sons Dr. Craig (Claire Loo) Nakatsuka and Ellsworth (Claire) Nakatsuka, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She is a donor with the John A. Burns School of Medicine Willed Body Program. A memorial service will be held with the program in 2023. The family requests no koden (monetary gifts) and that flowers be omitted.
June Bruce Stark
June Bruce Stark, 92, of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away on Nov. 3, 2022, at her residence. She was born on April 20, 1930, in Wayne County, Illinois, to Dorothy Wood Bruce and J. Herbert Bruce.
She married Dale Stark of Charleston, Illinois and Kalihiwai, who died in 2007. She graduated summa cum laude at the age of 19 from Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois, and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the scholastic honor society. She later received a master’s degree with distinction in English from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. She retired as an associate professor at the University of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i campus.
In Illinois she was employed by the state Department of Education, Illinois Gifted Program, as a director of a service center for Gifted and Talented Youth first in Charleston and then at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. She authored numerous articles on giftedness and served as a consultant and instructor for teachers in a multi-county Illinois area.
While on Kaua‘i, she served on numerous boards, including the Kaua‘i Historical Society, The Salvation Army, the YWCA, the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Woman and on the vestries of All Saints and Kilauea Episcopal churches. After moving to Punta Gorda, she attended the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dale Stark, in 2007.
She is survived by children Nicki (Tom) Medeiros of Oregon, Ann (Dr. Gary) Berger of Placida, Florida, and Mary (Frank Dwyer) Stark of Pasadena, California, six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a special friend, Joe Wortham of Punta Gorda.
A private service celebrating her life will be held by the Stark family.
Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home Punta Gorda Chapel.
Daniel Arthur Delos Santos
Daniel Arthur Delos Santos, 78, of Lihu‘e, passed away on Oct. 31, 2022 at Wilcox Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 8, 1948. He lived in a foster home with caregivers, Alex and Julie Castro.
He was preceded in death by parents Francisco and Emilia Delos Santos, brothers Franklin Delos Santos, Rudy Delos Santos and brother-in-law Daniel H. Niedermeyer.
He is survived by sister Estrella Niedermeyer, brother Wayne (Dolores) Delos Santos, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Private services will be held by family and closest acquaintances.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
