JONATHON JUNJI ADACHI

JONATHON JUNJI ADACHI

ADACHI, JONATHON JUNJI Jonathon Junji Adachi born on June 27, 1929 in Woodfibre, BC, passed peacefully on October 4, 2018. He was the third of 5 sons born to Harue and Shoichi Fukumoto. Predeceased by wife Louise Teruko and his 4 brothers Wally, Kaz, Koji and Shin. Father to Rick (Karen), Margaret (Bill), David (Marilyn) and Diana (Stewart).

His childhood years were spent in Woodfibre until the war broke out with his family being split up and placed in stables at the Pacific National Exhibition prior to being transferred to the Tashme internment camp. These were difficult years with his family being housed in little more than tar paper shacks. He and his brothers made the best of the circumstance and they treated the experience as an adventure. We never recall any bitterness being expressed about the experience. After the war his family was moved out east to Hamilton. There he went to Westdale High School. During his years in high school he helped out his family by living as a houseboy with a generous family, caring for the children of the house, babysitting and preparing meals. After completing high school he became an auto mechanic. He married our mother on September 18, 1954. Shortly after they had 4 children. As children growing up he was a great father. He taught us strong family values and the importance of being supportive of each other. Dad was hard working often holding 2 jobs to support his family. Even though we didn’t have much money we never felt deprived and never wanted for anything. Dad had a way with kids and students. In the community that we grew up in, he would often take us out to play softball. There he saw some kids jumping up and down on the baseball screen, trying to break it. Dad got them down and shortly thereafter started the local softball league. In its heyday there were 40 teams and 600 children participating in the league that he started. Dad started his working life as an auto mechanic. Afterwards he changed careers and became a high school teacher. He was a respected teacher and had a way of communicating with his students. After graduating from his class, Dad always made sure that his students had apprenticeships. For many he was like a family member, attending many weddings and being called to offer advice. In the years when he was failing he had students that would come by to visit with him and to reminisce about days gone by.

Dad loved his grandchildren and their partners Marcy (Andrew), Erin (Scott), Chris (Sara), Paul (Ashlynn), Stephen (Julie), Sarah (Mike), Lucas and Kira. While he never really got to know his great-grandchildren, all 7 boys, James, Charlie, Kyle, William, Michael, Reid and Mason, would bring a twinkle to his eyes when he would see them. We often thought that he would have liked to start a baseball or basketball team with them. Dad will be missed by many but never forgotten.

Cremation has taken place, a private family memorial will be held at a later date.