Rocky K. Tanaka

Rocky K. Tanaka, of Longmont, passed away September 3, 2007 at home surrounded by his family. He was 77.He was born in Eastlake, Colorado to Frank Tanaka and Kimiko Fukushima Tanaka. In the 1940?s, the family settled in Erie to continue farming. Rocky farmed the land for over 50 years with his parents, brothers and sisters making it one of the largest irrigated farms in America. The family also managed Tanaka Vegetable Market south of Longmont. Rocky served in the U.S. Army as a corporal in the Korean War. He married Karen Yoshida on November 29, 1959, in Denver.Rocky retired from farming in 1991 and began working as a groundskeeper at Fox Hill CC and later at Ute Creek Golf Course. Rocky was a compassionate person with a generous heart. No one was a stranger, only a friend. Rocky enjoyed hosting and feeding all he knew. His hobbies included bowling, watching sports and collecting. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren.Preceding him in death by his granddaughter Ashley and brothers George, Tom, Sam and Robert.Surviving are his wife, daughters, Carol (Jim) Bowman, and Diane (Dale) Kiyota, son Greg (LaLinda) Tanaka; grandchildren Rocky, A.J., Melissa, Lauren, Skylar, and Nikole; great-grandchild Gavin; brothers King and Dick Tanaka; sisters Mary Tanaka and Ruth Nukaya and numerous nieces and nephews.Visitation hours will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday, September 10, 2007.Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 11, at the Howe Mortuary Chapel, with Reverend Kanya Okamoto of Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple, officiating. A cremation will follow services.