Yoshio Takayama passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 15, 2017, at the age of 100. Yoshio was born in Kingsburg, CA, the eldest son of Yasaburo and Yoshi Takayama, and was raised in the Kingsburg, Del Rey and Selma areas.
He graduated from Selma High School in 1935. Executive Order 9066 forced Japanese Americans to be relocated away from the west coast. His family was sent to Gila River Internment Center in Arizona. After the war, the family returned to the Central Valley. Yoshio was a long time farmer in the Del Rey and Selma areas, where he farmed plums and grapes for raisins and wine. He also worked at the UC Kearny Field Station in Parlier, CA, as a Principal Ag Tech, retiring in 1990. He will be remembered as a hard working farmer, independent, quiet, humble and one who greeted everyone with a smile.
He was a member of the Del Rey and Selma communities, Fresno Betsuin Temple and Senior Club, and Chuka Kumamoto Shinwa Kai.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Shizuo Takayama of Fresno, CA, and Mitsume Takayama of Michigan.
He is survived by Miwa Takayama, his wife of 70 years; daughter, Gail Misaki and her husband Bill of Fresno; brother, Mits Takayama and his wife Mary of Fresno; sister-in-law, Phyllis Takayama of Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr. Dennis Nakata and the staff at Saint Agnes Hospice for the exceptional care they provided.
Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home on Friday, April 28, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 pm.
A Funeral Service will be held at Kingsburg Buddhist Church, 831 Orange St., Kingsburg, CA, on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
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