Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Brian Nuechterlein
Brian John Nuechterlein, 69, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 16, 2020, at Kona Community Hospital. Born March in Chicago, Illinois on March 5, 1950, he was a retired electronics technician for TRW Aerospace Company in Redondo Beach, California, and was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy. Inurnment with military honors will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 21, 2020 at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona. The family requests casual attire and flowers are welcome. He is survived by his wife, Janet Nuechterlein of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Shauna (Bully Fergerstrom of Waimea and Cheree (Junr Fabro) Nuechterlein of Kailua-Kona; mother-in-law, Fujie Yoshizawa of Keaau; brothers-in-law, Dennis (Nancy) Yoshizawa of Torrance, CA, Glenn (Jo-Ann) Yoshizawa of Kailua-Kona, and Alvin Yoshizawa of Keaau; sister-in-law, Lynette Kusano of Oahu; 6 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ethel Chong
Ethel I. Chong, 94, of Hilo, died Jan. 28 at the Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. She was born in Honomu and was a homemaker and a member of the Hilo Lions Club.
Visitation 10-11 a.m. Wednesday (Feb. 12) at the United Community Church. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Graveside urn committal service 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Survived by sons, Clayton E. Chong and Curtis E. Chong of Hilo; daughter, Elisa Lei Chong of Kailua, Oahu; hanai son, Ralph Toyofuku of Kaneohe; five grandchildren, one great grandchild; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lawrence Lowe
Lawrence “Larry” Lowe, 75, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 29, 2020 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Cook County, Illinois on June 11, 1944, he was a retired owner/operator of a retail store, Kona Flea Market, and U.S. Army veteran.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Vivian Lowe; sons, Lawrence (Kazue) Lowe and Leslie Lowe, all of Kailua-Kona; three granddaughters; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Susannah Broad
Susannah “Lindy” Lyndetta Broad, 59, of Hilo, died Feb. 1, 2020 at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born Nov. 1, 1960 in San Pedro, California, she was a member of Haleʻoluea Clubhouse, Hilo and a member of The Gospel of Alpha and Omega.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 14 for a service, scattering of ashes and luncehon at Leleiwi Beach Park. Casual attire.
She is survived by daughter, RoRo (Leinaala) Broad-Reghi of Honolulu, Oahu; son, Tyler Broad; brothers, Ernest Broad of Hilo and James Broad of Oahu; sister, Olena of Kona; caregiver, Ruth-Ann (John) Amina of Hilo; numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and family.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Masami Inaba
Masami Inaba, 93, of Hilo, Hawaii, died Jan. 12, 2020 at his residence in Hilo. Born Sept. 11, 1926, in Papaikou, he was a retired mechanic from the Orchid Isle Auto Center in Hilo.
Private services were held. No flowers. No koden (monetary offerings).
He is survived by wife, Lily Inaba of Hilo; daughter, Tracey (James) Oh of Honolulu; son, Kurt (Shan) Inaba of Hilo; sisters, Betty Okubo of Honolulu and Peggy Hong of Honolulu; brother, Masato Inaba of Honolulu; four grandchildren; numerous nephews and nieces.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ruth Yamaguchi
Ruth Mitsuye Yamaguchi, 88, of Hilo, died Dec. 26, 2019 in the Life Care Center of Hilo. She was born in Hilo on May 14, 1931 and was retired from the County of Hawaii Department of Public Works as an engineering drafting technician.
Private services were held. No flowers. No koden (monetary offerings).
She is survived by son, Mark Yamaguchi of Hilo; sister, Fujie Mukai of Hilo; numerous nephews and nieces.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Romeo Castro
Romeo Pascua Castro, 72, of Keaau, died Feb. 3, 2020 at his residence. Born Nov. 7, 1947, in Dupax Del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines; he was a bus driver for the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council (HCEOC) and a papaya farmer and a former laborer for Puna Sugar Co.
Friends may call 6-7 p.m. Feb. 16 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel for a 7 p.m. service. Friends may call 8-10 a.,m. Feb. 17 at Keaau Holy Rosary Catholic Church for a 10 a.m. Mass. Casual attrie; burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park (Ilima Section).
He is survived by wife, Lany Castro of Keaau; daughters, Romela (Duane) Wong of Washington, Ruby (Matt) Keesler of Las Vegas, Nevada and Richelle (Dustin) Maneja-Poole of Washington; sons, Ruel Castro and Reonel Castro of Keaau and Richard Castro of Las Vegas, Nevada; four grandchildren; sisters, Lita Cachola and Aurora Paano of Philippines, Virgin Silva of South Carolina; brothers, Alejandro Castro, Andres Castro and Lucas Castro Jr. of Philippines; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Richard Will
Richard Yoshio Will, 89, of Honolulu, died Dec. 9, 2019 at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center. Born Sept. 23, 1930, in Hilo, he was retired from the University of Hawaii Department of Education at Manoa, and U.S. Air Force veteran.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. Feb. 14 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 10 a.m. service. Graveside urn committal service follows at noon at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. The family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by hanai daughter, Michelle Murray-Smith of San Francisco; nephews, David Nardini of Hilo, William (Teresa) Abney of Orlando, Fla.; and niece, Deborah (Thomas) Abney-Lidahl of Red Wing, Minn.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gail Gali
Gail Susan Heidenfeldt Gali, 61, of Pahala, died Jan. 23, 2020 in Hilo. Born in Honolulu, she worked for Sure Save and Diamond R in Naalehu and the Naalehu Fruit Stand and volunteered at the Pahala Senior Center.
Friends may call 8:30-10 a.m. Feb. 22 at Assembly of God Church in Naalehu for a 10 a.m. service. Burial to follow at Naalehu Cemetery. The family requests casual attire.
She is survived by mother, Miguela Heidenfeldt of Hilo; brothers, Bruce (Patty) Heidenfeldt of Hilo, Gary Heidenfeldt of Honolulu and Brian (Deborah) Heidenfeldt of Hilo; sisters Karen Heidenfeldt, Debra (Kawehi) Ryder of Pahala; Caregiver and friend Deanna Navarro; Late husband’s children Colleen, Calvin, Misty, Dossi, Robyn, and Danielle; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Estelle Cruz
Estelle A. Cruz, 79, of Keaau, died Jan. 15, 2020, at Hilo Pohai Malama. Born Dec. 9, 1940, in Honolulu, she was a bus driver for Roberts Hawaii.
Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo for a 10:30 a.m. service. Lunch to follow.
She is survived by partner, Thomas Teixeira of Keaau; sons, Francis Camacho of Keaau, Dominic Cruz of Maui; daughters, Chevell Hanohano of Maui, Lee Hernandez of Oahu; brothers, Jimmy Kanae, Mathew Defrancia; sister, Judy Smith; 23 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Kristi Cannon
Kristi Ann Cannon, 60, of Keaau, died Jan. 29, 2020 at Hawaii Care Choices. Born in Billings, Montana, in 1959, she was one of the last members of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) as a Cardiac Pacemaker Nurse
She is survived by husband, Richard Glenn Cannon of Keaau.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jeye Moore
Jeye Kulamanu Hiwahiwa Tam Moore, 82, of Hilo, died Dec. 23, 2019, at the Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, she was retired with the civil service as a court reporter for the U.S. Air Force, a guardian ad litem for the foster youth care system in Hilo, member of the Ula la Red Hatters in Hilo, Sure Foundation Church in Keaau, and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Friends may call 9-10 a.m. Feb. 15, 2020, at Sure Foundation Church in Keaau for an 11 a.m. service. Casual attire.
Survived by daughters, Denise (Carl) Honeycutt of Benbrook, Texas, Dannette (Larry) Ramirez of Kent, Washington, Deborah (Patrick) Cox of Arizona; brothers, Mark (Joyce) Tam of San Francisco, California, Dennis (Chery) Tam of Casa Grande, Arizona; sisters, Kulamanu Jones of Kailua-Kona, Tamar (Deigo) Gonzalez of Las Vegas, Nevada; half sister, Piialoha Gonsalves of Honolulu; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Pauline Futagami
Pauline Kazuyo Nishihara Futagami, 81, of Hilo, died Jan. 21, 2020 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born Oct. 1, 1938, in Pepeekeo, she was a former Hilo High School English teacher.
Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.
She is survived by brothers, Clarence (Leanne) Nishihara of Temecula, Calif., William (Agrifina) Nishihara of Hilo; sisters, Sadako Cecelia Shimai of Honolulu, Nancy O’Connor of Hilo; and one niece.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
W.T. Blair
W.T. Scott Blair, 58, of Kona died Jan. 21, 2020, in Canada. Born in Canada, he worked for Beachcomber Pool and Spa.
Private Services.
He is survived by mother, Connie, brother, Jim (Marilyn), sister, Kelly and numerous nieces, nephews and stepchildren and step grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Scott Blair.
Olga Rios
Olga Rios, 80, of Kailua-Kona, died Aug. 30, 2019, at her residence. Born July 25, 1939, in New York, New York, she was a retired accountant and US Army veteran.
Services held.
She is survived by brother, Robert Rios of Kailua-Kona; sister, Viola Faria of Missouri; numerous friends, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.