Memorial Service: My Uncle John Ogawa - Sanger, CA - 1923-2011

Jonathan Tamotsu Ogawa
May 1923 - April 2011

My Uncle John Ogawa passed away earlier this month. He was one of my dad's older brothers.

See his Obituary in the Sanger Herald


My memories of my Uncle John include:

I remember hearing a story of my Uncle John having a plant growing contest with my father Joe. My dad was winning the contest by a huge margin until his plant stopped growing. Apparently, my Uncle John cut off the roots of my dad's plant. My dad didn't think it was very funny but the rest of the family and my Uncle John got a big laugh out of it.

After World War II, my Uncle John returned from Europe on the Queen Mary after serving in the Military Overseas. I knew this because we saw a picture of soldiers on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, and Uncle John saw himself in one of the pictures.

When Uncle John was in the Trucking Business, he arrived a few times in front of our house with huge truck with a load of Christmas trees. He was on his way back home and dropped in to say hi. It was usually late at night and I'm sure the neighbors wondered why such a large truck was parked in front of our house.

Uncle John also owned Elm Auto and Dismantling in Sanger and was the definitive source for buying and selling your cars because Craig's List wasn't around back then. Instead, there was Uncle John's List of Used Cars. He was a great salesman and always convinced you he was getting you the best, mechanically sound car around. He found me my very first car, a Plymouth Duster that my dad liked much more than I did since it didn't go very fast. He also helped me buy a new 4x4 Truck, one of my first big purchases after college. I loved that truck! I eventually gave it back to him to sell and at the next family wedding - I saw his son, my cousin that was in law school driving my car - apparently he got a real good deal on it!

My condolences go out to my uncle's family and his wife. Here is a information on his Memorial Service on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Jonathan-Ogawa&lc=7068&pid=150026431&mid=4622227&locale=en-US

Memorial Service
Saturday, April 16, 2011 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Lisle Funeral Home
1605 L St, Fresno, CA 93721-1117 | 559-266-0666
Driving Directions

Fresno Bee
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/09/v-textonly/2344137/obituaries-for-sunday-april-10.html