Kenneth Kadonaga
Passed away peacefully on January 8, 2024 at Granite Landing Retirement Home in Cambridge, Ontario at the age of 91.
Beloved husband of Hanae Irene Kadonaga (nee Nagami) for 61 years. Cherished father of Tetsuo Kadonaga (Tracy) & Miye Cox (Paul). Proud grandfather of Mollyrose, Finnegan, Graeme (Susie), Jared and Owen. Dear brother of James (Chikako) and Nancy Kadonaga. Predeceased by his siblings Victor (Akiko), Kazuo (Babe), Edith (Tosh) and Ko (Florence).
Ken was born in Vancouver in 1933. When WWII broke out he was moved to a Japanese Internment Camp (Tashme) in 1942 where they stayed for 4 years. The Kadonaga family eventually were sponsored by the Anglican church and moved to Goderich, Ontario. A year later the family moved to Hamilton where he later attended Saltfleet High School. Ken went to McMaster University on a Navy ROTP (Regular Officers Training Plan). He completed this first year of engineering and also trained with the University Naval Training Division (UNTD). He was selected to represent the Navy division of the university at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in the summer of 1953. He completed his Mechanical Engineering degree from Queen’s University in 1956. After graduation he joined the active Navy as an engineering officer. He retired from the Navy in 1959 and was the first Nisei (second generation Japanese Canadian) to receive a commission in the Canadian Navy.
He joined the Marketing Department of the International Division of Alas Steels in Lausanne, Switzerland. He married Irene in 1963 and both Tetsuo and Miye were born in Switzerland. They moved to St. Catharines, Ontario in 1969. After over 25 years with Altas Steels he joined GMW International (of Japan and later Sweden) .
After retirement both Irene and Ken cared for Miye’s sons. His proudest moments were when his grandsons (Graeme, Jared & Owen) received their Engineering Degrees and Iron Rings like their mother! He also taught them camping skills and would often play his harmonica around the campfire. Ken and Irene spent their winters in California with Tetsuo’s family.
Ken assisted Irene with her Iguana Beads shop in Cambridge for 14 years.
Ken taught the family all to ski and travelled to Zermatt, Switzerland for family holiday in 2006. Ken and Irene also loved playing golf and tennis. World travellers, Ken and Irene trotted the globe together (Japan, Singapore, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Europe, UK, Brazil, India, etc.).
Ken always felt obligation to repay some of the tremendous help they received over the years.
At St. Georges Church (St. Catharines) he was the chairman for the Cubs and Scouts for 7 years, coordinated the sponsorship of a family from Laos, Niagara College business advisory committee, was also active in United Appeal, Junior Achievement.
Cremation has taken place and private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Guelph Hospital where Ken received outstanding care.
Messages and condolences may be left at www.tricitycremations.com. Please visit Ken’s obituary noitce on Facebook.