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. Ralph Gens’ obituary is rerunning because a previous version omitted information.
Ralph Gens
Ralph Samuel Gens, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 3, 2019, swimming in Kahaluu Bay. He was born Nov. 25, 1924, in Berlin, Germany and immigrated to the U.S. in 1939. Ralph served in the U.S. Army Infantry, Pacific Theater WWII, and worked as chief engineer at the Bonneville Power Administration, pioneering high-voltage direct current transmission to shuttle renewable hydropower to population centers. He lived in Kailua-Kona for 31 years.
Services will be held in Portland, Ore. The family suggests donations to the Kahaluu Bay Education Center, https://kohalacenter.org/kbec .
He is survived by son, David (Cynthia) Gens of Portland, Ore.; daughter, Marilyn-Renee Gens Johnson of Kailua-Kona; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins.
Jace Chesebro
Jace Kevi M. Chesebro, 50, of Hilo, died Dec. 20, 2018, at Pohai Malama. He was born on March 19, 1968 in Hilo.
Private services to be held.
He is survived by daughters, Shaina Saburo-Chesebro of Palau, Kiana Johnson-Chesebro of Hilo; brothers, John K. Chesebro III of Hilo, Chandon K.K. Chesebro of Hilo; sister, Jayreen M. Chesebro of Hilo.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Margaret Tokunaga
Margaret Balberde Tokunaga, 81, of Kailua-Kona, died Dec. 29, 2018, at Hospice of Kona’s Nakamaru Hale. Born in Pepeekeo on May 3, 1937, she was a Department of Education administrator and a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.
Private services were held.
She is survived by her husband, Stanley Tokunaga of Kailua-Kona; son, Alex (Janelle) Tokunaga of Tustin, Calif.; brother, Lawrence (Vivian) Balberde of Hilo; sister, Sebbie (Daniel) Akiu of Oahu; one sister-in-law; one grandchild.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.
JoAnn Bishaw
JoAnn Bishaw, 68, of Hilo, died Jan. 15, 2019, in the Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y. on May 15, 1950, and was a homemaker.
Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. A celebration of life service will begin at 10 a.m. Casual attire is requested.
She is survived by husband, Reginald Bishaw, Jr. of Hilo; son, Colin Metzler of Nebraska; daughters, Regine Bishaw of Honolulu and Shallan (Joshua) Duke of Idaho; brother, Jeff Metzler of Kailua-Kona; sister, Jeanne Dunwoodie of Reno, Nevada; mother-in-law; five grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo.
Rodney Stepleton
Rodney “Rod” Mitchell Stepleton, 87, of Kailua-Kona, formerly of Hilo, died Jan. 12, 2019, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born on June 29, 1931, in Muncie, Ind., he was a longtime educator and administrator in California and Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
Private services.
He was preceded in death by wife, Carol.
He is survived by children, Debra (Rick Chalmers) Stepleton of Oregon, Jay (Claire) Stepleton of Colorado and Sheila (Adrian) Cadaoas of Hilo; brother, James Stepleton of New York; sister, Nancy Kramer of Indiana; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo Branch.
Ronny Conol
Ronny Conol, 61, of Mountain View, died Jan. 6, 2019, at the Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Hilo and was a self-employed welder and owner of R &M, Inc.
Visitation 4-5 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Dodo Mortuary chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire.
He is survived by his wife, Miriam Konanui Conol of Mountain View; sons, Jacob Conol, Cinto (Tonya) Conol and Daycen Tripp-Conol of Mountain View; daughters, Ronnie-Mae Conol of Hilo, Ronellmae (Cody) Paishon, Ronnette (Randall) Fontes and Christie Conol of Mountain View; Celia (Ikaika Galinato) Conol of Keaau; brothers, Carl (Millie) Conol and Roy Conol of Hilo, Jeffrey Conol of Keaau; sisters, Carol Cardines, Patricia Yung and Felicia (Dan) Waters of Arizona; 15 grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
