Chi Wakagawa

Chisato Wakagawa, 90, of Boise, Idaho went to her eternal home on Feb. 9, 2022. Private inurnment services will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery on a spring day in April when flowers are in bloom.

 Chi was born July 27, 1931, in Brawley, Calif., to Haruichi and Kinuyo Sakoi. 

 Her early school years were spent in Oxnard, Calif. 

 After WWII started, the family was interned at Gila River, Ariz., when she was 11. In 1945 the family relocated to Mesa, Idaho where her father worked in the apple orchards. 

 They moved to Weiser for her high school years, and it was there that she met Sho Wakagawa. They married in December of 1952 in Ontario, Ore. 

 They lived in Weiser where they farmed on the Weiser Flat and raised their three children. She helped out on the farm and when the kids were a little older, she enjoyed working at the local Ace Hardware store. 

 Sho and Chi always raised a large garden and enjoyed a bounty of flowers and fresh vegetables. Chi also enjoyed sewing, quilting and raising orchids. Family gatherings were so important to her and nobody left hungry from Grandma Chi’s house.

 She spent many hours volunteering at the hospital and blood drives. She was a member of the Church of the Redeemer, the Joanna Circle, PEO, the Friends of the Hospital and the Weiser-Japanese Club.

 Chi is survived by her husband, Sho, and their three children, Wendy (Dennis) Stokes, Leslie (Dave) Stephens and Paul (Jacquie) Wakagawa. Grandchildren Michelle Skow (Kelly Calkins), Amy Skow (Josh Wilding), Jake (Sarah) Stephens and Scott (Allison) Stephens. Great-grandchildren, Dylan Holtzclaw, Owen and Madi McCurry, Ana, Brandon and Cameron Stephens, and Ellie and Charlie Stephens. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Sachi Sakoi and sister Tomi (Tad) Kuga and many nieces and nephews.

 The family would like to send sincere thanks to the staff at Grace Assisted Living and All Care Health Solutions for their compassionate care during the past year. She made many friends during the past few years at Grace and treasured their visits.

 She was preceded in death by sisters, Kiyo Fujimura, Sue Matsushita, Shiz Hata and brother, Mas Sakoi. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Church of the Redeemer, P.O. Box 344, Weiser, ID 83672 or to the Friends of the Hospital, c/o S. Young, 1172 Indianhead Road, Weiser, ID 83672.

 Arrangements are under the direction of Lienkamper-Thomason Funeral Home.