Obituaries for Sunday, December 19, 2021

Kinichi Ishikawa

Kinichi Ishikawa of Waikoko/Hanalei died peacefully at his home on Nov. 8, 2021, at the age of 103.

He was one of five siblings born in Kilauea, and grew up in Pearl City, O‘ahu. Throughout his life, he was always an avid learner, eager to educate himself, even reading the entire encyclopedia in his younger days. One of his passions was the opera, so he taught himself Italian and German to better understand the stories in their original languages.

As a young man he witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor, and shortly thereafter volunteered for the all-Japanese 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Their famous motto was “Go For Broke,” and they went on to become the most-decorated unit for its size in U.S. military history.

He was deployed to Italy, where he was made a forward scout because of his ability to understand and translate German and Italian for his officers. Like many of his fellow soldiers, he was wounded and sent back to the U.S., where he recovered after 13 months, considering himself lucky to have survived the war.

After the war, he came back to Waikoko/Hanalei, where Sam Wilcox offered him land to farm. He was thus able to pursue his other passion of farming. After many years of hard work, he was instrumental in turning what was once swampland into a thriving taro farm. Even at the age of 100 he could be seen on his tractor, because he said his goal was to have “the most beautiful taro patches in the world.”

When he came to Kaua‘i in 1946, Hanalei was still a small community of mostly farmers where everyone knew each other. He became well known for helping his neighbors, for sharing his farming knowledge, for his ability “to fix anything,” and for his generosity in sharing the fruits and produce from his farm. He was also very active in the community, and played and coached baseball, enjoyed his Monday-night card games, and was an expert diver who caught huge lobsters, crab and tako at his “secret diving spot.”

He was a man who treated everyone with dignity and respect. He was a quiet, soft-spoken, kind, generous, independent man of great integrity and humility, who leaves behind many friends and family who were touched in some way during his long and well-lived life. When asked about the secret to his long and healthy life, he would say, “You don’t be angry at anyone, and you don’t worry.” Remembering him with a smile, a laugh and a happy memory would be a wonderful legacy.

Private funeral services will be held at a future date.

Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arraignments.

Nancy Louise Null

Nancy Louise Null, 89, passed away in Wilcox Medical Center on Nov. 28, 2021. She was born on April 20, 1932 in Tacoma, Washington, to parents Edward and Katherine Rickert.

She is survived by husband Bill, daughter Amy, older brother Glenn Rickert, and preceded in death by younger sister Linda Robertson.

She was raised in the Puyallup Valley, Washington, and received a teaching degree from Central Washington State College in 1955. She then began teaching, and during the 50-year period to 2005, she taught for 42-plus years.

She was with a group of teachers who came to Hawai‘i during the summer of 1958 to attend an educational workshop. She liked what she saw, and learned that Hawai‘i had a teacher shortage. DOE was handing out applications, and she took one with her on returning home to start the 1958-59 school year in Washington state.

After talking with her parents and school principal, she completed the application and sent it back. A few weeks went by, then one day a letter arrived stating that DOE would hire her in August to begin teaching the 1959-60 school year. She was placed at Highlands Intermediate School in Pearl City, O‘ahu, and subsequently hanaied by the Harold Isa family.

Three years later, she took a leave of absence to join the Peace Corps, and with a group of teachers she was a member of the first group of Peace Corps volunteers to serve in Indonesia. After two years, she returned to Hawai‘i to resume teaching, and met Bill on Oct. 3. They were married in May. Amy was born in Honolulu at The Queen’s Hospital. Two years later, they moved to Syracuse, New York, where Bill was accepted into graduate school and Nancy found a teaching position at a Syracuse middle school.

Later, they then moved back to Seattle for a while before moving to Guam, where Nancy taught in a private elementary and middle school for nine years. Amy was sent back to Washington state to finish her last three years of high school. Nancy wanted to be present during Amy’s last year, so the couple left Guam in June of 1984. Nancy resumed her teaching as a substitute in both Tacoma and Clover Park school districts for a year before securing a permanent position in a CPSD school.

She retired at the close of the 1997 school year, but continued to sub, on her terms and for certain teachers, quitting all together in 2004. Bill retired in Aug. 2005, when they moved to a retirement facility on Kaua‘i to be near Amy, who preceded them by five years.

For many years, Nancy had a passion for needlepoint, which she continued to pursue and have framed. In addition, she wanted to learn to play the ukulele, sought out an instructor, and convinced several other residents at the facility to purchase ukuleles, and together with the instructor they learned to play quite well.

In addition to these activities, she initiated a monthly newsletter for the facility. Back in Washington state, she joined the Philosophical Educational Organization some 20 years ago, and continued to meet with an unsanctioned group of “sisters” here on Kaua‘i before the pandemic set in.

These numerous activities slowed during her last years, but she looked forward to attending St. Michael & All Angels’ Episcopal Church every Sunday, Bible study every Tuesday (she learned to use Zoom on her iPad), and then have picnic lunches on Saturdays at a beach park or a hotel with good friends.

She was a wonderful and conscientious wife to Bill, and a loving mother to daughter Amy.

A memorial service is yet to be determined.

Alice F. Jeremias

It is with a mixture of joyful release and deep sadness that family and friends announce the passing of the amazing life and spirit of Alice F. Jeremias. On Nov. 3, 2021, at age 98, she saw no reason to stay longer.

Her life adventure began in Caruthers, California, on March 12, 1923, when she was born the youngest of seven children to Azorean immigrants, Antonio Bernado and Frances Silviera Jeremias. She was the last survivor of that closely bound farm family.

She was a resident of Kaua‘i for the last 20 years, and spent most of those years on the North Shore property of her daughter and son-in-law, Mindy and Larry Smith, where the love of dogs, nature and lanai dinners with friends fed her spirit.

She was a proud armed forces veteran, having joined the Navy in 1944 during WW II. Soon after, she married and moved to the Midwest, where she gave birth to her two children, Tim and Mindy. Years later she would return to central California and maintain a full-time clerical position until she reached retirement.

Always looking for mental stimulation, she earned a degree in art from Fresno City College at age 60. Creating art became one of her many passions, and her paintings dot the walls and tables of many loved ones. She took a Spanish language class at FCC, as well, where she was fondly known as “Alicia.”

She was an extraordinary and fierce athlete. Well into her 80s she played a very competitive game of golf. She brought equal fervor and skill to baseball, football and tennis. She did not like to lose. Card and board games were her specialty. She was always up for a round of pinocle, poker or Yahtzee, all during which she’d drink her whiskey and would proudly “cheat” to win.

But, you didn’t try to pull a fast one on her. She was always a few steps ahead. She had seen enough life to earn that advantage.

A true character in every sense of the word, she lived a long and eventful life and will be missed by the hundreds of friends she accumulated along the way. Those who knew her well aptly describe her as “hell on wheels.” She had her moments.

She is survived by daughter Mindy (Larry) Smith, son, Tim (Jeanie) Dieterich, grandchildren Adrienne (Gene) Stonebarger and Tyler Stevens, great-grandchildren Frankie, AJ and Shea Stonebarger, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as her loving extended family of Dave (Mary) Stevens, Laurie (Wally) Antonellis, Nyla Hallum and JJ and Roger Fagar.

Her devoted family and friends are grateful to each of her loving caregivers, the staff of Garden Island Rehabilitation & Health Care and Kaua‘i Hospice for her wellbeing over the years.

Plans for a service are pending.

Anthony James ‘Tony’ Kay

Anthony James ‘Tony’ Kay, 60 of Pahoa, Hawai‘i Island, unexpectedly passed away on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 2021. He was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and retired as a carpenter.

He will be remembered as a kind-hearted, humble cowboy and skilled carpenter who taught those around him of gratitude and love by example.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father.

He lived a simple lifestyle and practiced Buddhist philosophy with a strong Christian faith. Those who were fortunate to know him laughed with him at his funny stories and took to heart his sincere lessons for life.

He genuinely made you feel welcome, and wanted to be in your presence. He was the uncle who would make it a point to talk story, listen and gently offer his insights and humor to the conversation until your cup was overflowing. It is with a heavy heart that we bid our dear father and brother Tony a hui hou as he rides off into the sunset on his beloved stallion Tzadeek, with his trusty canines Kila and Nui at their heels.

He leaves behind daughters Aubrey Kay of Bozeman, Montana, Bronwyn Kay of Kalaheo, their mother Lisa Johnshoy Prinzing of Kalaheo, brothers John Kay of Hilo, Hawai‘i Island, Andy Kay of California, Paul Kay of Honolulu and Daniel Kay of Honolulu, sisters Juli Kay of Honolulu, Sarah Kay of Hilo, Susie Hajou of Fresno, California, Mary Kay of Spain, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held in the next year, with a scattering of ashes at Kealia Beach.

Maggie V. Alayvilla

Maggie V. Alayvilla passed away on Nov. 27, 2021, at the age of 91, in Lihu‘e. She was born on July 24, 1930, in Ilocos Sur, Philippines. She was a retired waitress.

She was preceded in death by husband Benny V. Alayvilla.

She is survived by sons R. Glenn (Shirley) Alayvilla of Kalaheo, Benny (Teresa) Alayvilla Jr. of ‘Ele‘ele, daughter Debbie (Edwin) Yanagihara of Hanapepe, grandchildren Rachelle Asuncion, Alden Alayvilla, Glenda Alayvilla, Brandilyn Mira, Renee Yanagihara, Kristel Alayvilla and Shantelle Alayvilla, great-grandchildren Chasen Alayvilla, Chestin Ramelb, Jeyvin Ramelb, Jeylah Asuncion, Iris Ragasa, Roslend Ragasa, Liam Mira and Tehia Chun, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Private services will be held.

Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.