Harold Hiroshi Onishi was born May 2, 1929, in Portland and he peacefully passed away January 28, 2015.

Harold graduated from Portland State University and got his master’s degree from Oregon State University. He was an elementary school teacher and a high school counselor at Washington High School and Cleveland High School. He loved to coach basketball, softball and baseball.

Harold served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, transporting people and weapons by ship in Greenland, Panama and Korea. During World War II, he and his family were evacuated to the Minidoka Relocation Camp in Hunt, Idaho. He gave many lectures in schools and in the community about the Japanese Internment Camps. Harold served as president and was a member of the Japanese American Citizens League and the Nikkei Community Project. Harold helped with the building of Ikoi-so Terrace (a retirement home) and recovering Redress Money for those who were sent to the Japanese Internment Camps.

Harold was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church. He loved to bowl, golf, cook, play poker, watch sports and spend time with his family and friends. Harold was a loving husband to his wife, Elsie, for 58 years. He was a great dad to his children, Marita and Jon and an awesome grandpa and great-grandpa. Harold was blessed with five wonderful grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his sister, Masako Yada; and brother, Kenji Onishi.

A celebration of life luncheon will be announced at a later date.

Facts Born: May 12, 1929
Death: January 28, 2015