Daniel Hitoshi Yano

Daniel Passed away peacefully November 4, 2020 at age 71. He was born November 14, 1949 in Kelowna, BC. Daniel is lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his children Candace (James) Arcand, Shaun (Christina) Yano. Daniel was predeceased by his wife Marilyn Yano and parents Kiyoshi and Chizuko Yano. Survived by his siblings Andrew (Helen) Yano, Sheri Yano, as well as many nieces and nephews.

After his parents were able to leave the internment placement in Taber, AB his family relocated to Rutland, BC. His families journeys brought them finally to Merritt, BC where they lived in the mill houses behind Tolko for many years. He thought it was great in the old days to catch salmon by hand in the Nicola River and take them to local restaurants that would pay for them.

Daniel worked as a sawfiler in Merritt at the Tolko sawmill 39 years from 1969 -2008; during this time he also achieved his sawfitters certification ( L.M.I.) March 2, 1981. Daniel retired just before the mill closed and received a long service pocket watch and recognition certificate for his many years of service.

Daniel married his first wife Katherine Graham on November 12 1977. They made their home in Lower Nicola, BC where they had their children Candace and Shaun. There were many family memories made over the 19 years they were together.

Daniel later met a special lady Marilyn Taylor and they were married April 10, 1996 in George Town, Grand Cayman. After a short five years, Marilyn passed in August of 2001 in a bad auto accident and is sadly missed.

He was enjoying retirement being able to go fishing or take a ride in his 1986 Corvette when he wanted or just reading in front of the wood stove. Anyone knowing Daniel knew he had a second passion which was collecting firewood and his kids would tease him that he had accumulated enough for an apocalypse. Daniel would ask Candace when she was coming to visit: what she wanted him to cook and she always said your honey garlic chicken which were her favourite. Shaun has many memories of working out and laughing with his dad at the gym. Daniel was a motorbike rider from his youth he enjoyed sharing and spreading that same passion to his children - joining Candace and Shaun for their trips down to the USA and around BC. Both children also remember going snowmobiling, tobogganing, and ice fishing at Lundbom Lake, as well as camping at Missezula Lake for a month each summer. Family friends James Valois and Jody Watson spent most holidays and weekends with us and we just thought our family consisted of 6 people not 4.

Daniel will also be missed by his gym family at Beyond Fitness (and beyond) in Merritt - being a bodybuilder from his teen age years and was still faithfully going to the gym everyday only missing Christmas and New Years because they were closed. Candace and Shaun being so far away always felt that his friends at the gym had his back. He never realized how much his presence was noticed, respected, or even maybe at times that he might have even inspired others.

Due to COVID, we have decided to wait for a celebration of life so everyone has a chance to say goodbye. We will let everyone know when we have a date and time. We encourage you to maybe prepare thoughts and stories that you might be willing to share when we are all finally able to come together and celebrate our Dad's life. Our thanks to all that have added to our Dad’s life making him the person he was.