Iso Nishimura was born in Seattle, Washington, the 5th child of Kyumatsu and Ito Nishimura on September 24, 1925. He grew up playing sports on Maynard St. in what is now the International District. At 18, he was interred at Minidoka. From there he was drafted into the Army. He was shipped on the Queen Mary to Germany. The war ended on the day he arrived.
He needed to keep busy and worked odd jobs upon his return. He worked as a porter at the newly completed airport. There are pictures of him with his shoe-shining kit. He did janitorial work. Then he started working at the Water department for the City of Seattle reading meters. He was so efficient that he could finish his route before lunch and mow lawns in the afternoon.
In 1952, he married the love of his life, Ai. They have two daughters, Naomi and Nadine. Ai had a bad knee so he always chauffeured her and dropped her off at the front door of where she was going. She called it doorstep service. And he would pick her up at the bus stop on her return. No cell phones back then, she got off work the same time every day. He knew which bus she would be on and he’d be there in the car waiting for her. Teamwork. He drove and helped drive on all the family vacations, and fishing and clamming trips. And he loved to eat what was caught.
He loved sports and played baseball and basketball in his younger years. Uncle Pete recalled that he shocked the taller caucasian opponents with his speed and quickness. He took up bowling in his middle years, stopping when he could no longer bowl 200 on a regular basis. Later, he played volleyball and pickleball into his 80’s.
All that was put on hold when Ai had her stroke. He stayed home by her side whenever possible, and took care of her for 14 years till she passed away. His own health declined and he was eventually frozen by the effects of Parkinson’s.
Iso passed away on June 13, 2022 at the age of 96. He will be deeply missed.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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