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. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Susumu Yamane
Reverend Susumu Yamane, Pastor Emeritus of the Church of the Holy Cross, 90, died July 9, 2018, in Honolulu. He served as pastor of the Church of the Holy Cross from 1971 to 1994, during which he involved the church in helping to establish a campus ministry at UH Hilo, Hospice of Hilo (now Care Services Hawaii) and Habitat for Humanity. Prior, he also served as an interim minister for the Hoolokahi congregation in Kona.
A service of remembrance will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 15 at the church. In lieu of koden, gifts may be made to Care Services of Hawaii, 1011 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, or Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, 863 Iolani Street, Hilo.
Reverend Yamane is survived by his wife, Miyeko; brother, Noboru (Betsy) Yamane, children Naomi (Dan) Giovanni, Deborah (Ross) Watabayashi and Jon (Joy) Yamane; three grandchildren, Jordan Nakagawa, Janna (Justin) Frash, and Gavin Watabayashi.
Gordon Kurokawa
Gordon Tamio Kurokawa, 85, of Hilo, died Sept. 7, 2018. Born in Paukaa, he was retired from the County of Hawaii Real Property Tax Division and the owner of GK Appraisals, Inc. He was a member of the Papaikou Hongwanji Mission and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
Private services held. Family requests no flowers and no koden.
He is survived by, wife, Thelma Kurokawa of Hilo; sons, Gary Kurokawa of Honolulu, Kevin (Wendy Miyao) Kurokawa Hilo; brother, Ronald (Etsuko) Kurokawa of Hilo; sister, Elsie (Richard) Asakura of Kona; three grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Patricia Matsen
Patricia Dunagan Matsen, 73, of Kailua-Kona, died Sept. 5, 2018, at Kona Community Hospital. Born on Aug. 2, 1945, in Dodge City, Kansas, she was an adult educator and a member of the United Methodist Church.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
She is survived by, husband, Luther Matsen of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Jerusha (Wesley) Neal of Durham, N.C. and Amy Joy Matsen of Kailua-Kona; two grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Kona Branch.
William Lawson
William “Toby” Earny Lawson, 68, of Waikoloa, died Aug. 25, 2018, at Pohai Malama. Born on June 16, 1950, in Mississippi, he was a supporter of the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement, and a proponent of peace and liberty among all people and cultures.
William is survived by his sons, Chad Lawson of Hilo, Elijah Lawson of Keaau; daughter Kanoelani Lawson of Keaau; brother, Walter Carl Lawson, Jr of Louisiana; sister, Sandra Carlene Lawson DeWitt of Louisiana and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by: Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Priscilla Bertelmann
Priscilla Haunani Bertelmann, 72, of Kamuela, died Sept. 6, 2018, at the North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Kohala, she was a retired housekeeper with the Hilton Waikoloa Village and a member of the Waimea Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Friends may call 9-10:45 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Waimea Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for an 11 a.m. funeral service. Burial will follow at the Waimea Mormon Cemetery. Casual attire, no flowers.
She is survived by her brothers, Sidney Spencer of Sacramento, Calif. and Edgar (Lita) Spencer of Kamuela; sister, Carol (Al) Davis of Waikoloa; numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Derick Tokjen
Derick Tokjen, 24, Ocean View, died Aug. 26, 2018, at Kona Community Hospital. Born on Oct. 30, 1993, in Majuro, Marshall Islands, he was a tree trimmer and a member of the Protestant Church in Ocean View.
Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 14 at Jonithen Jackson’s residence in Ocean View for a 6 p.m. wake service followed by an all-night vigil. Visitation will continue from 8-10 a.m. on Sept. 15 at Jonithen Jackson’s residence in Ocean View. Service begins at 10 a.m.; burial to follow at 4 p.m. at Naalehu Community Cemetery.
He is survived by hanai parents, Beauty and Darren Laji of Ocean View; hanai brothers, Brucy Laji of Ocean View, Kilion Laji of Ocean View and Akino Laji of Ocean View; hanai sisters, Talina Lafi of Ocean View, Shelma Lafi of Ocean View and Tracy Laji of Ocean View; hanai grandfather, Brucy Kilion of Ocean View; mother, Lynn Henry of Pocahontas, Ark.; father, Clanton Tokjen of Seattle; brothers, Kijjo Henry of Marshall Islands, Billy Ibarra of Arkansas and Rodrigo Ibarra of Arkansas; sisters, Nicole Thatcher of Georgia and Theresa Basaya of Arkansas; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Kona Branch.
Masayo Nagao
Masayo “Marco” Nagao, 95, of Hilo, died Aug. 25, 2018, in the Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center in Hilo. She was born in Hilo on June 28, 1923, and was a retired Realtor.
Private services held. No flowers. No koden.
She is survived by daughters, Cheryl (Dr. James) Oda of Honolulu, Lynnette (Glenn) Kaneshiro of Hilo and Karen (Mark) Nagasawa of Honolulu; son, Kelvin (Hedy) Kaneoka of Honolulu; two sisters-in-law; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; numerous nephews and nieces.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo.