Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. The content is subject to editing to ensure parity treatment and style continuity.
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Wayne Montwheeler Sr.
Wayne Frank Montwheeler Sr., 59, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 8 at Kona Community Hospital. Born June 8, 1952, in Santa Clara, Calif., he was a self-employed metal sculptor and artist.
Services will be announced at a later date.
He is survived by companion, Maggie Brown, of Kailua-Kona; son, Wayne Montwheeler Jr., of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Anna Montwheeler, of Kailua-Kona; one grandchild.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Yukiko Miyamoto
Yukiko Miyamoto, 96, of Keaau, died Jan. 2 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Kapapala, she was a homemaker.
Private services were held. Family requests flowers and monetary donations be omitted.
She is survived by sons, Larry (Grace) Miyamoto, of San Jose, Calif., Randy (Christine) Miyamoto, of Hilo; daughter, Grace Kagami, of Honolulu; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.
Laurette Edwards
Laurette Marion Edwards, 101, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 11. She was born in Dunsmuir, Calif., she worked in the Human Resources Department of Lincoln Insurance and was a member of Christian Science Church.
Private services will be held.
She is survived by grandsons, Sean Palumbo, of Southern California, Morgan Palumbo, of Kailua-Kona.
Arrangements by A Hui Hou Crematory and Funeral Home of West Hawaii.
Edward Surls
Edward Leon Surls, 54, of Mountain View, died Jan. 1 at Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu.
Private services were held.
He is survived by son, Johnny Surls, of Oahu; daughters, Tammy (Ricky) Ramirez and Kuuipo Surls-Kane, both of Hilo, Edwina Kuuipo Surls, of Oahu; brother, James Surls, of Oahu; sisters, Bernadette Surls, of Oahu, Brenda Kaetsu, of Hilo; 13 grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.
Ursula Warkus
Ursula Regina Warkus, 88, of Waikoloa, died Dec. 24 at her residence. Born Aug. 7, 1923, in Elbing, Germany, she was a retired accountant for California State University in Sacramento.
Private services were held.
She is survived by daughters, Krystyn Warkus, of Waikoloa, Sage Keaten, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; brother, Hans Grunwald, of Spain; three grandchildren; a niece, a nephew and a grandniece.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Mitsugi Nakamura
Mitsugi Nakamura, 86, of Hilo, died Jan. 1 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born June 13, 1925, in Papaikou, he was a retired heavy equipment operator, World War II Army veteran and member of Operating Engineers Local No.3 and ILWU Retirees.
Private services were held. Family requests monetary gifts and flowers be omitted.
He is survived by brothers, Tatsuo Nakamura, of Honolulu, Tomoharu (Sue) Nakamura, of Hilo; sister, Yasuko (Yorio) Onishi, of Hilo; nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alfred Santos Sr.
Alfred Gerard Santos Sr., 73, of Mountain View, died Jan. 1 at home. Born in Wailuku, Maui, he retired as a construction supervisor for Maui Excavation and Construction.
Private services were held.
He is survived by wife, Luana Santos; sons, Alfred Santos Jr., Scott Santos; daughter, Raina Santos; brother, Rodney Santos; sister, Bernice Lea; six grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.
Walter Santos Jr.
Walter “Googoo” Herbert Santos Jr., 58, of Pepeekeo, died Dec. 27 at his residence. Born Sept. 29, 1953, in Honolulu, he was a diesel mechanic for Pioneer Mill Co. on Maui.
Private services were held.
He is survived by brother, Larry Santos, of Ewa Beach, Oahu; sisters, Judy Santos, Annette (Eddie) Santos, Tina Santos, all of Honomu; two aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John Mertus
John Mertus, 72, of Hilo, died Jan. 14 at home. Born in Michigan, he retired as an ophthalmologist and Navy veteran.
Private services were held.
He is survived by wife, Joanne Mertus, of Hilo; son, Paul (Jill) Mertus, of New York; daughters, Anne (Jon) Davis, Malia (Steve) Bauer, Lisa (Mark) Shelton and Amy (Brian) Milner, all of Ohio, sisters, Mary (Curt) Thies, of Las Vegas, Ruth (Michael) Strohminger, of Ohio; 14 grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.
Suezette Mercado
Suezette Kaleomililani “Suesue” Mercado, 49, of Hilo, died Dec. 18 at her residence. She was born Nov. 9, 1962, in Hilo.
Private services were held.
She is survived by daughters, Daesha Antonio, of Hilo, Tabree Antonio, of Boston; sisters, Sharon Hawkins, of Texas, Jane (Eddie) Sato, of Guam, Laroma Parker, of Honolulu; brothers, Zachary Tadio, of Hilo, Chuck Kaina, of San Francisco; five grandchildren; numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ralph Green
Ralph “Dude” Green, 73, of Kailua-Kona, died Oct. 28 in Kealakekua, Hawaii. He was the tennis pro for the Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club for over 30 years and a musical entertainer.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. Jan. 22 at the Keauhou Canoe Club for a memorial and scattering of ashes. A potluck reception and talk story follows. In lieu or flowers, donations and notes of remembrance may be sent to Ralph Dude Green Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 390636, Keauhou, HI 96739.
He has no known survivors.
Arrangements by AHui Hou Crematory and Funeral Home of West Hawaii.
David Martin
David “Dave” Leon Martin, 78, of Pahoa, died Jan. 3 at Hilo Medical Center. Born June 1, 1933, in Whittier, Calif., he was a retired machinist for McDonnell Douglas and a Navy veteran.
Private services were held.
He is survived by spouse, Josephine Martin, of Pahoa; son, David Martin, of Escondido, Calif.; stepsons, Steven Winters, of San Marcos, Calif., Jeffrey (Pat) Winters, of Santa Rosa, Calif., Alan (Christy) Winters of Poway, Calif.; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Lothar Wehmeier
Lothar Walter Wehmeier, 78, of Kailua-Kona, died Dec. 22 at his residence. Born Dec. 4, 1933, in Berlin, he was the owner of RTC, Active International Corp. in North Carolina and Wehmyolo Estate Coffee Farm.
A private service will be held.
He is survived by wife, Yolanta Wehmeier, of Kailua-Kona; sons, Udo Wehmeier and Alex (Janie) Wehmeier, both of California; sisters, Sieglinde Zrostek, of Berlin, Grace (Fawzy) Farrag, of North Carolina; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Joel Thornton
Joel Lester Thornton, 65, of Glenwood, died Jan. 12 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Nov. 21, 1946, in Way Cross, Ga., he was a reliability manager for Ocean Technology Inc. and Litton Industries and affiliated with Nachung Dorje Brayang Ling (Wood Valley Temple).
Private services were held.
He is survived by spouse, Andrea Thornton, of Glenwood; son, Tito (Sondra) Thornton, of Grant’s Pass, Ore.; sister, Toni Thornton, of Los Angeles; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
James Ota
James “Jimmy” Tadashi Ota, 94, of Kealakekua, died Jan. 13 at Regency at Hualalai. Born Dec. 9, 1917, in Honolulu, he was a retired electrician and member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Community of Christ Church and the Office of Aging.
Private services will be held. In lieu of the flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Kona, P.O. Box 4130, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745-4130.
He is survived by wife, Jane Ota, of Kealakekua; sons, Robert (Diane) Ota, of Washington, Steve Ota; daughters, Cindy Adams, of Honolulu, Jeri (Rudy) Espiritu, of Kailua-Kona, Gay Mukai, of Hilo; brother, Ronald (Rose) Ota, of Honolulu; 16 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Elaine Jones
Elaine T. (Uyeda) Jones, 91, of Hilo, died Jan. 6 at Hilo Medical Center. Born March 5, 1920 in Hilo, she was retired from PayLess, a dressmaker and Concept Now distributor.
No services are planned.
She is survived by daughter, Cheryl (William) McGinnis, of New Hampshire; brothers, Manabu Uyeda, of Naalehu, Charles (Cindy) Uyeda, of Detroit, Herbert (Dale) Uyeda, of California; a grandson; several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Karl Hees
Karl Hees, 71, of Hilo died, Jan. 17 at his residence. Born in Yuma, Ariz., he was a retired teacher at Waiakea High School, alto saxophonist for Marius Stranger’s Island Swing Orchestra, member of the Friends of the Palace Theater acted in numerous plays at the Hilo Palace Theater.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Hilo Palace Theater for a service. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by wife, Erlinda Hees, of Hilo; daughters, Judith Hees, of Beaverton, Ore., Kelly Hees, of Chico, Calif., Kimberlee LeBlanc, of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; mother, Fern Wasser, of Lompoc, Calif.; brothers, John Hees ,of Oroville, Calif., Bill Hees, of Magalia, Calif., James Mitchell, of Moorpark, Calif.; sister, Judy Heywood, of Kelseyville, Calif.; three grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Sandra Barnes
Sandra Susan Barnes, 61, of Hilo, died Jan. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Jan. 22, 1950, in Hilo, she was a former bookkeeper.
Friends may call at 6 p.m. Jan. 23 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 7 p.m. service. Cremation follows. Family requests casual attire be worn and flowers omitted.
She is survived by daughter, Germaine (James) Murphy, of Hilo; son, Adam (Michelle) Harrison, of Hawi; brother, Raymond (Jean) Asuncion, of Simi Valley, Calif.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Nolan Hao
Nolan Kahoonewanewaonalani Hao, 49, of Orchidland, died Jan. 11 at Hilo Medical Center. Born July 2, 1962, in Kealakekua, he was a musical entertainer with the original Hoaikane group, a heavy equipment operator for Big Island Construction, laborer for Ishii Construction, a truck driver for Grace Pacific, landscaper for Four Seasons Resort and member of the Kai O Pua Canoe Club and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Puuanahulu Community Center, 71-1449 Mamalahoa Highway in Puuanahulu for an 11 a.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn. Flowers are welcome.
He is survived by sons, Austin Hao, of Orchidland, Aidan Hao, of Hawaiian Beaches; hanai son, Tevin Tuvera, of Hawaiian Beaches; brothers, David (Kelley) Hao and Roman (Auhea) Hao, both of Waimea; sisters, Irene Hao, of Ka’u, Euvonne Hao, of Paauilo, Tracy Mae Hao, of Puunanhulu; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.