Joseph Hideo Kosai

Obituary Joseph H. Kosai Joseph H. Kosai was born on May 7, 1934 in Tacoma to Gizo and Waki Kosai and passed away on November 4, 2008. He started his formal education at Central School in Tacoma. However, due to Executive Order 9066, removing all those of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast, he continued his education at Tule Lake, CA and Minidoka, ID. After being released from camp, the Kosai family settled in Ontario, OR where Joe attended Park School, Ontario Junior High, and graduated from Ontario High School in 1952. He then attended the University of Washington, served in the Army from 1956-1958, and completed his BS in Education with a major in mathematics at Eastern Oregon in 1959. He received his M.Ed in 1965 from the University of Puget Sound. Joe began a teaching career in Tacoma in 1959, teaching at Grey Junior High, Stadium High School, and Hunt Junior High. He continued his career at Tacoma Community College in 1966, and after 23 years at TCC, retired in 1989. He maintained an interest in education by serving on the Board of Trustees at Clover Park, and the UW Tacoma Advisory Committee. In 2005, he was honored by the Japanese government with Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosettes award in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and the United States of America. Joe was active in many community organizations receiving awards from the City of Tacoma, Municipal League of Tacoma, the Human Rights Commission, and the town of Takuma, Japan. Joe is survived by wife Kazuko, son Brian (Gwen) and granddaughter Kaitlyn of Puyallup, son Mark (Sharon) and grandsons Ryan, Kendall, & Garik of Renton, and daughter JoAnn Kosai-Eng (Pat) and granddaughters Kristen & Megan of Kent, brother Aizo (June) of Seattle, sisters Hatsumi Higa and Reiko (Dick) Hara of Seattle, sisters in laws Fusako Kosai of Tacoma and Janet Kosai of Seattle. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Yoshio, Masayoshi, & Frank. Joe wanted to extend his gratitude to Dr Chris Chen and the Allenmore Hematology/Oncology Clinic staff (Chris, Barb, Elaine, Kevin, Hope, and Eva) for their excellent and compassionate care. A viewing will be at Gaffney Funeral Home, Saturday, November 8th from 10am-5pm. A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, November 15th at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple, 1717 South Fawcett Avenue, Tacoma, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tacoma Buddhist Temple Yosh Kosai fund or foundations for Clover Park Technical College, TCC, or UW Tacoma. Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.