Henry Kiyoto Hirano

Henry Kiyoto Hirano

Henry Kiyoto Hirano died July 29, 2011 at his home in Salt Lake City. Henry was born in Los Angeles, California on February 12, 1924 to Kiyoshi and Kazuyo Hirano. He relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah as part of the forced evacuation of the West Coast of all Japanese Americans. He entered the U. S. Army and served with the Military Intelligence Service as a translator as part of the U.S. occupational forces in Japan.

Upon completion of his service, he went to Chicago, Illinois for professional school. Upon returning to Utah he met and married Ikuye Kawaguchi on March 27, 1955. They had two children, Jerry Kiyoshi and Joni Hiromi. He was employed by Schmidt Sign Company for almost 40 years.

Henry loved to bowl and watch his grandchildren in their various activities. Henry bowled as he lived his life, with joy and enthusiasm. He was able to bowl until he was 86 years old. One of the highlights of his life was bowling a 288, an almost perfect game. He was an active member of the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple where he served in a variety of offices. Just as he bowled an almost perfect game, his life was almost perfect. However, he was preceded in death by his wife Ikuye in 1988, his parents, and brother-in-law Masato Furubayashi. He is survived by his children: Rev. Jerry and Dr. Carmela Javellana Hirano, and Joni and Dru Sueoka; grandchildren: Ryan and Nicholas Sueoka, Kacie and Taylor Hirano, and stepgranddaughter Katie Kormanik; two sisters: Maxine Furubayashi and Jean (Daniel Ikemoto); sisters-in-law: Rose (Joe Kamaya) and Myra Kawa and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank his many friends at bowling over the years, at the temple, and in his neighborhood who gave him so much happiness through their friendship. We would especially like to thank his caregivers at Silverado Care Center and Hospice For Utah. We are happy that he was able to spend his last days at home and is now together again with the love of his life, Ikuye.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 5, 2011 at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, 211 W. 100 S. The family will meet with friends on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and Friday from 10-11 a.m. prior to the services. Cremation entrusted to Lindquist''s Bountiful Mortuary.