NISHI, DOUGLAS YUGI
March 15, 1948 – April 17, 2014
Doug was born to Sam and Jessie Nishi in Kelowna General Hospital. He grew up on the family property on Gordon Road, now the site of K.L.O. Middle School. With the Shiosaki cousins just down the road, Doug enjoyed family times, especially raising German Shepherds and the New Year’s feasts. Doug studied Judo while very young, under the tutelage of his father, Sam, who held one of the most advanced standings in Judo in western Canada.
Doug attended the little Mission Creek School on the corner of K.L.O. and Benvoulin Roads, then went on to Dr. Knox, and Kelowna Secondary Schools. He met his future wife, Blanche, at the K.L.O. and Gordon Rd. school-bus stop, having gotten to know her sister, Marjorie, in Chemistry 11 class. They and their friends enjoyed snow-skiing at the then just-developed Big White, water-skiing on the lake, and camping beside it.
Doug’s big love was for cars….the more “muscle” the better. High-school sweethearts, he and Blanche spent their courting years “on the circuit”, that is, City Park-Bernard Ave.-the A & W-Harvey Ave.-City Park….or the reverse!-- usually meeting up with friends at “The Dubs”. Doug loved working on his cars and kept everything clean and tidy, and which his cars and home absolutely reflected!
Doug left Kelowna in 1967 to take courses in Vancouver, and then spent his working years in Management in Education, Marketing, and Administration with IBM. Doug and Blan were married May 16, 1970, and following Doug’s IBM transfers, lived mostly in Vancouver and Regina. They returned home to Kelowna regularly for holidays, and returned to stay in West Kelowna Estates in 1993. Sadly, soon after their return, Doug began to show the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, familiar to his family and in-laws as his father and his mother-in-law, and then his sister and other relations suffered from the same disease. It was particularly hard on Doug as he “knew what was coming.” Blan was able to care for Doug with the help of family members until 2005, when he went to live in Brookhaven, MacIntosh unit. In 2009, Doug was moved to Ethel Glen unit in Cottonwoods. Sadly, while Doug was at Brookhaven, Blanche, too, developed symptoms of dementia. It was much more rapid than Alzheimer’s, and she, too, was moved into Ethel Glen so that they could still spend some time together.
Doug was pre-deceased by his father and mother, Sam and Jessie Nishi, his wife, Blanche, and his sister, Florence. His is survived by his brother, Ron (Rosie) Nishi, niece, Dawne, brother-in-law, Shun Ishiguro, nephew Kevin (Raelene), Lauren and Justin, niece Andrea Ishiguro (Eric Ronay), Gabriel and Evan, his in-laws Marjorie (John) Beales, Johnny (Joanie), and Benjamin, Meredith, David (Karen), and Annabelle and Helena, and Graham Beales, and Mary (Bruce) Thompson, Laura Martini (Ryan), and Scott Thompson, and many cousins.
A sincere thank-you to Doug’s caregivers in both Cottonwoods and Brookhaven. You special care-givers know who you are! ---your caring for Doug and support of his family members has been appreciated so much. A very heart-felt thank-you again to Nola Schweitzer, whose caring warmth befriended Doug over the last four years.
No service will be held at this time: a gathering in memory of Doug’s life will be held at a later date. Please make any donations in Doug’s memory to research on Alzheimer’s Disease, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements in care of Springfield Funeral Home, with thanks for their many years of support of families with dementia.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com, 250-860-7077.