Eddie Yoneda

Eddie Toshiaki Yoneda passed away October 4, 2018 surrounded by many of his loved ones.  He lived to see his 90th birthday.  Eddie was born on August 19, 1928 in Loomis, Ca.  Eddie was born to Nemo and Sangoro Yoneda.  At a young age Eddie went to live with his cousins May and Herb Tanouye who to him became his parents.    With his parents, at the age of 13, they left Loomis, Ca. and moved to Marysville, Ca.  The stay in Marysville was short due to the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.  It was not long after the act that the Japanese descendants were forced into Concentration Camps.  He and his parents were placed at Tulle Lake.  Thankfully the stay there was short.  They boarded the train and headed for Idaho.

Eddie and his folks found their way to Caldwell, Id were his dad worked for Symms Orchards.  It was hard to make a living there.  After seeing a bulletin for orchard help in Emmett, his dad caught the bus and found a better living in Emmett and eventfully made this their home.

Even after being a prisoner of his own country, Eddie enlisted in the military.  He served from June 17, 1953 until May 4, 1955 with the United States Army 27 Infantry.  Eddie was awarded National Defense Service Medal—Army Occupation Medal (Germany)—Good Conduct Medal.  After release from active military service, he transferred to Army Reserves to complete 8 years of service under Universal Military Training & Service Act.  Eddie found himself working for Hogue’s Orchard and Packing Shed.  This is where he met the woman that would become his wife for 59 years.  July 27, 1957 Eddie married Norma Osborn and to this union 3 children were born, Linda, Mary Ann and Rocky.  Eddie also worked for Boise Cascade sawmill in Horseshoe Bend as a millwright.  While still working there, he and Norma decided to try a go at being entrepreneurs.  Together they purchased a fast food establishment, Yoneda’s Humdinger Drive Inn.  Hard times forced him to have to return to work outside of this dream.  He went to work for Hoff Forest Sawmill in Homedale, Id.  After 20 years of countless hours devoted to their dream, they decided it was a good time to call it quits.    Following Ed’s retirement in 1990, they began the next chapter of their lives.  This included fishing and camping.  Many new fishing companions were met during these outings.  These ventures never kept them away from attending birthday parties for the grandkids and then eventually great grandkids. Many sporting events for the grandchildren were attended as well.  Ed and Norma joined the Squaw Butte Ramblers Good Sam Club.  They were active members for years and past Mr. and Mrs. President for their Regional Chapter.  In 1995 they made their way with Norma’s brother and sister in law to the wild lands of Alaska.  Eddie is preceded in death by the love of his life, Norma, his parents, a granddaughter, and two brothers.  He is survived by daughters Linda (Mike) Hull of Emmett, Mary Ann (Rod) Hanson of Emmett and son Rocky (Bobbi) of Meridian 7 grandchildren, Melissa (Neal) Capps, Kristy (Don) Allen, Michael Hull (Abigayle Holsman), Bryan (Alisha) Hanson, Rachel Hanson (Michael Beck), Jacob Yoneda, Brady (Alicia) Yoneda, 16 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.  Eddie is also survived by his brothers George Nishizaki of Ohio and Calvin Tanouye of Ontario, Oregon.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at the Emmett Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Potter Funeral Chapel. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Eddie’s memory to your favorite charity.

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