Tagami, Sueyo

Suyeo Tagami passed away peacefully at the Kootenay Lake Hospital on Thursday, October 7, 2010. For the past five years, Suyeo has gone to Trail three times a week for dialysis. Since December, 2009, Suyeo has been in the hospital due to a number of health issues. Suyeo was born on October 13, 1927, in Paldi, BC. He celebrated an early 83rd birthday with family and friends at the hospital. He was the youngest son of Jirosaku and Koyoshi Tagami. Suyeo and his family were interned in the interior during World War II. After World War II, Suyeo and his four brothers ran a sawmill in Slocan. In 1963, he moved to Nelson and lived with his mother and sister, Shizuye. He worked as a saw filer at Kootenay Forest Products and also in Salmo. On August 12, 1968, Suyeo married Helen. Suyeo was an avid fisherman and gardener. His favourite hobby was visiting the casinos at Bonners Ferry and Chewelah. He was waiting anxiously for the new casino to open in Castlegar. Suyeo was predeceased by his parents, Jirosaku and Koyoshi Tagami, sister, Shizuye, brothers Ichiro, Itsuro (Tom), Masao (Frank), brother-in-law Shigeru Akada and sister-in-law Tamiko. Suyeo is survived by his wife, Helen, brother Yoshiro (Kimiko) of Nelson, and sister, Akiye Akada, sister-in-law Kay, sister-in-law, Sadie, all of Vancouver, Helen’s children, Loretta (Fred) Strukoff of Nelson, Cedric (Sandy) Planiden of Airdrie, George (Mona) Planiden of Vernon and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. There will be no funeral at the request of the deceased. No flowers or ‘koden’. Those who wish to express their sympathy may make a donation to the Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation or a charity of their choosing. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.