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. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Robertson Frederick “Rob” Landgraf
Robertson Frederick “Rob” Landgraf, 69, of Hilo died Jan. 28 at home. Born in Honolulu, he and was a retired lead lineman with the former Hawaiian Telephone Co., owner of Rob’s Repair and U.S. Army and National Guard veteran. Visitation 3-5 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 22) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Noela Landgraf of Hilo; daughters, Kimberly “Kimie” Castillo and Shannon Landgraf of Hilo; hanai son, Channing Landgraf of Hilo; father, Libert (Mili) Landgraf of Honolulu; brother, Leigh C. (Shanna) Landgraf of Hilo; sister, Jaime (Jacob) Hanohano of Lacy, Wash.; father- and mother-in-law, James and Mary Jane Peleholani of Hilo; brother-in-law, Randall Pacheco of Hilo; six grandchildren and three great granddaughters; a nephew, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Darrell Leslie Kaleoaloha Pakele
Darrell Leslie Kaleoaloha Pakele, 60, of Hilo died Jan. 4 at home. Born in Hayward, Calif., he was a carpenter and ranked Junior National Referee for USA Volleyball for high school and college. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 24) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 10 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Memorial donations to ALS Golden West Chapter at alsagoldenwest.org. Survived by wife, Susanne Pakele of Hilo; son, Anu‘enu‘e (Michael) Baker-Kukona of London; daughter, Lindsay (Brandon Maka‘awa‘awa) Kukona Pakele of Waimanalo, Oahu; sister, Deborah Lynn N. (Rudy) Maikui of Hilo; brother, Dean Lance H. Pakele of Hilo. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Joanne Sue Inouye Ikemori
Joanne Sue Inouye Ikemori, 78, of Hilo died Jan. 21 at a private care home. Born in Ewa, Oahu, she was a retired teacher at Waiakeawaena Elementary School and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin and its Buddhist Women’s Association and Hilo Hoyukai. Visitation 3-4 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 24) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 4 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Kenneth Ikemori of Hilo; daughter, Allison (Erik) Zahn of Kirkland, Wash.; son, Reid (Valerie lyn) Ikemori of Honolulu; three grandchildren and a step-grandchild. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
William “Puggy” Worth Nathaniel Jr.
William “Puggy” Worth Nathaniel Jr., 68, of Hilo died Jan. 13 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a maintenance worker at the former Hilo Country Club Hotel, worked at Hawaiian Host and was a member of Kamehameha Canoe Club. Visitation 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 24) at Haili Congregational Church. Celebration of his life at 10 a.m. Scattering of ashes to follow at Puhi Bay. Casual attire. Survived by mother, Ann Nathaniel of Hilo; brothers, Glen Nathaniel and Jonathan Nathaniel of Hilo; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Abraham Kam
Abraham Kam, 83, of Kihei, passed away on Jan. 25 at Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Lahaina, he was a retired telephone installer and a member of St Theresa Church. Visitation will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 28, with service to follow at 9 a.m. at St. Theresa Church, 25 W Lipoa St, Kihei. He is survived by wife, Maria D. Kam; sons, Robert WD Kam, Nico Bonilla, Moses Ramirez; daughters, Melissa Ramirez, Angela Bonilla; brother, Thomas Kam; sisters, Caroline Kam, Joyce Kam; 3 grandchildren; in addition to numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Robert Keaumiki “Miki” Matsu
Robert Keaumiki “Miki” Matsu, 46, of Kawaihae died Dec. 7. Born in Hilo, he was a fiber-optic troubleshooter for MCI and Verizon. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by parents, Eileen and Robert Matsu of Kawaihae; brothers Kai (Nicole) Matsu of Volcano and Kawika Matsu of Kawaihae; two nephews; uncles, aunts and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Wilbert “Bear” N. Malepe
Wilbert “Bear” N. Malepe, 62, of Pahala died Feb. 3 at Hilo Medical Center. He was a Ka‘u High School graduate, orchard worker for the former Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Co. and member of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142. Celebration of life at a later date. Condolences to: Maile Abellera P.O. Box 928 Pahala, HI 96777. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by sister, Maile (Efren) Abellera of Pahala; brothers, William “Bunny” Malepe and Wilson “Moto” Malepe of Pahala, Wilton “Kupi” (Janine) Malepe of Naalehu; hanai son, Wilfred Malepe Jr. of Wahiawa, Oahu; hanai daughters, Sherry Malepe of Wahiawa, Oahu, Layla Abellera and Elysa Abellera of Pahala, Erika Abellera of Las Vegas; sister-in-law, Won Hwa “Kim” Malepe of Waianae, Oahu; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Frank M. Baker
Frank M. Baker, 66, of Pahoa died Dec. 22, 2023, at home. Born in Boulder, Colo., he was a football coach at Hilo, Waiakea and Kamehameha high schools and was set to retire as an adult correctional officer. Celebration of life 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by son, Saya Baker of the Big Island; brothers, John Baker and Mark Baker of the Big Island, Wes Baker of Colorado. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
James William “Kimo” Hoopai Sr.
James William “Kimo” Hoopai Sr., 87, of Kohala, died Jan. 7 at home. Born at Puuhue, Kohala, he was a retired cowboy foreman for Ponoholo Ranch and 2000 inductee into the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association Paniolo Hall of Fame. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Mana Christian Ohana Church in Waimea. Service at 11 a.m. Survived by wife, Gwen Genevieve Leina’ala Hoopai of Kohala; sons, James “Kimo” (Lehua) Hoopai Jr. of Waimea and Bernard (Chona) Hoopai of Kohala; hanai brothers, Dale (Jadelyn) Hoopai, Gilbert (Diana) Perez and Godfrey (Amoo) Kainoa Sr., seven grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Marjorie M. “Lehua” (Fentriss) Wells
Marjorie M. “Lehua” (Fentriss) Wells, 77, of Volcano died Feb. 4 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, she held court at Mountain View Farmers Market each Saturday, maintained a robust online presence and was a retired programmer for Wells Fargo and Computab. Survived by son, David Maxwell of Pahoa; sister Malia Brown of Pahoa; hanai son Antonio Arango of Concord, Calif.; stepdaughters Tracy, Patti, and Martha Myers; a niece, a nephew and their children. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jurene Makakilo Shiroma Rocha
Jurene Makakilo Shiroma Rocha, 45, of Hilo died Jan. 29 at home. Born in Hilo, she was an employee of Hawaiian Electric (the former Hawaii Electric Light Co.). Private services held. Memorial tributes to daughter, Jaylen Shiroma, RR3 Box 1122, Pahoa, HI 96778. Survived by husband, Clifford Stanley Kaipo Rocha of Hilo; father, Julian (Naomi) Shiroma of Captain Cook; mother, Rene (Eric) LaMadrid-Ahu of Pahoa; sons, Grant Shiroma Jr. and David Soares Jr. of Hilo; daughters, Jaylen Shiroma of Pahoa and Taysia Rocha of Hilo; brothers, Jerry (Brianne) Shiroma of Wailua, Kauai, Jace Shiroma of Honolulu and Erik Keola Ahu of North Carolina; sisters, Jenna Shiroma of Captain Cook and Shelby Ahu of Keaau; uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.