Manabu Fujimoto

Manabu Fujimoto

March 26, 1919 ~ July 16, 2016

Manabu Fujimoto, 97, passed away on July 16, 2016, in South Ogden.  He was born on March 26, 1919, in Rexburg, Idaho, to Tozabu and Yotsu (Shimamura) Fujimoto.  His mother returned to Japan in 1923 with Manabu and his younger sister, Yasuko.  He graduated from Tamana High School in Japan, then returned to Rexburg in 1936.

Manabu was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1946.  He was assigned to General Headquarters in Tokyo, where he served in the Allied Translation and Interpretation Section (ATIS).  From there he was sent to Manila, Philippines, where he served as an interpreter in the military court system.  Manabu returned to Rexburg after receiving an honorable discharge.  He married Etsuko Koga in 1948 and they moved to Utah in 1951.

Manabu worked at Hill Air Force Base as an aircraft electrician.  He traveled to several countries during his career, including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Israel. and Iceland.  He retired with more than 30 years of service and 3,000 hours of sick leave.

Manabu enjoyed fishing, gardening, woodworking, spending time with his grandchildren, and taking trips to Wendover.  He was a member and past president of the Ogden Buddhist Temple, and he also served in other capacities.

He is survived by his five children, Jun, Salt Lake City; Nancy (Rick) McManigal, Seattle, WA; Joan (Craig) Nakano, Issaquah, WA; Julia, South Ogden; Blair (Karen) Logan; and grandchildren, Quinn Nakano, Portland, OR ; Krista Nakano, San Jose, CA; Sara and Madison Fujimoto, Logan.  He is also survived by his sisters, Yoshiko, Setsuko, Toshiko and Kyoko; brothers, Tadashi and Akira, all in Japan.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Etsuko; parents, sister, and brothers, Susumu, Mitsugi and Kiyoshi.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at 11 a.m., at the Ogden Buddhist Temple, 155 North Street.  Friends may visit with the family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Ogden Buddhist Temple.  Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

The family wishes to express thanks to IHC Hospice, and especially to Dr. T. Sharman Sutherland for the compassionate care he provided to both Manabu and Etsuko.